Damage mechanics modeling of the non-linear behavior of SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite fuel cladding

JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS

卷:524

Article

Alabdullah, Mohammad¹  Ghoniem, Nasr M.¹ 

[1] Univ Calif Los Angeles, Dept Mech & Aerosp Engn, 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA

关键词: SiC/SiC composites;    Radiation damage;    Non-linear;    Fuel cladding;    High-temperature;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.07.017

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

A damage model is developed and validated with experimental data for the non-linear mechanical behavior of SiC/SiC composite materials in nuclear applications. The model extends a continuum damage mechanics formalism, where explicit property degradation and volumetric swelling as a result of neutron irradiation are additionally included. The model is shown to be validated with out-of-pile experiments, and then applied to off-normal and high-burnup operating conditions associated with loss of cooling and extended radiation exposure, respectively. Optimized operating conditions aimed at reducing the fuel temperature included variation of the thermal conductivity and initial fuel-cladding gap thermal resistance. The nonlinear response along with continuum micro-cracking damage predictions are obtained and compared to the behavior during normal operating conditions. Numerical implementation of the model is based on 3-D Finite Element solutions. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free