SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 2002
STP10821S

Mechanical Property Testing of Irradiated Zircaloy Cladding Under Reactor Transient Conditions

Source

Specimen geometries have been developed to determine the mechanical properties of irradiated Zircaloy cladding subjected to the mechanical conditions and temperatures associated with reactivity-initiated accidents (RIA) and loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCA). Miniature ring-stretch specimens were designed to induce both uniaxial and plane-strain states of stress in the transverse (hoop) direction of the cladding. Also, longitudinal tube specimens were also designed to determine the constitutive properties in the axial direction. Finite-element analysis (FEA) and experimental parameters and results were closely coupled to optimize an accurate determination of the stress-strain response and to induce fracture behavior representative of accident conditions. To determine the constitutive properties, a procedure was utilized to transform measured values of load and displacement to a stress-strain response under complex loading states. Additionally, methods have been developed to measure true plastic strains in the gauge section and the initiation of failure using real-time data analysis software. Strain rates and heating conditions have been selected based on their relevance to the mechanical response and temperatures of the cladding during the accidents.

Author Information

Daum, RS
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Majumda, S
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Tsai, H
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Bray, TS
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Koss, DA
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Motta, AT
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Billone, MC
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: E10
Pages: 195–210
DOI: 10.1520/STP10821S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5465-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-2897-2