SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1965
STP43541S

In-Reactor Creep of Cold-Worked Zircaloy-2

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The creep properties of 20 per cent cold-worked Zircaloy-2 during neutron irradiation have been determined in the temperature range 275 to 465 C and stress range 20,000 to 35,000 psi. In general, the effects of neutron irradiation on creep are small; however, some differences between in-reactor and ex-reactor tests exist. The activation energy for creep during irradiation is around 90,000 cal/mole. In the absence of irradiation, the activation energy is about equal to the self-difiusion value of 60,000 cal/mole. During reactor outages, a small increase in creep rate occurs. The time required to initiate the increase after a shutdown decreases with increasing temperature.

During irradiation, steady-state creep rates can be expressed as ϵ·=2.5×1020exp(5.31×10-4σ)e-90,000/RT, where: ϵ = creep strain per hour, σ = stress in psi, T = absolute temperature, and R = the gas constant.

In addition, total creep strain prior to the first reactor outage can be expressed in terms of Dorn's parameter =S(σ)f[texp((90,000)/RT)], where t = time.

Author Information

Holmes, J., J.
Hanford Laboratories, General Electric Co., Richland, Wash.
Williams, J., A.
Hanford Laboratories, General Electric Co., Richland, Wash.
Nyman, D., H.
Hanford Laboratories, General Electric Co., Richland, Wash.
Tobin, J., C.
Hanford Laboratories, General Electric Co., Richland, Wash.
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Details
Developed by Committee: E10
Pages: 385–394
DOI: 10.1520/STP43541S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-6007-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-6161-0