Abstract
In this paper, the expansion deformation behavior of zirconium alloy claddings with different hydrogen concentrations was evaluated by the advanced expansion due to compression (A-EDC) test and ring tensile test. The results showed that in the A-EDC test, both the fracture load and the maximum hoop strain of the zirconium alloy claddings decreased with the increase of hydrogen concentration, especially when the hydrogen concentration at 300 wppm, these decreases became stronger. The fracture surface analysis showed that the specimens gradually changed from ductile fracture to brittle fracture with the increase of hydrogen concentration, and a significant 45-degree shear fracture characteristics for all the specimens. In the ring tensile tests, either the tensile strength or the maximum hoop strain of the zirconium alloy claddings seemed to be independent of the hydrogen concentration, except the reduction of area that decreased with the increase of hydrogen concentration. The fracture surface analysis showed that the specimens also gradually changed from ductile fracture to brittle fracture with the increase of hydrogen concentration, and a transformation from cup-and-cone fracture to flat fracture. The results also showed that during the A-EDC tests and ring tensile tests, a large number of cracks appeared on the outside surfaces of the hydrided specimens along the axial direction, especially at a higher hydrogen concentration. The in-situ observations of ring tensile showed that compared with the circumferential hydrides, the radial hydrides preferred to crack. Combined with the results of in-situ observation and fracture surfaces analysis, a fracture model based on the expansion deformation of hydrided zirconium alloy cladding was proposed.
Published Version
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