Mechanical properties of neutron irradiated fuel cladding tubes.

Abstract

There was few post irradiation examination data on the mechanical properties of domestic fuel cladding tubes used for light water reactors, then those data obtained abroad have been often used in the fuel design or fuel performance codes. Although, many reports discussed the deformation mechanism of the tube, almost all the data were not obtained from irradiated specimens but unirradiated ones. In recent years, systematic post irradiation examinations on domestic fuel elements used in Japanese light water reactors and the related studies were performed. This report first summarizes briefly the crystallographic texture which characterizes the properties of Zircaloy fuel cladding tubes, followed by an explanation of basic properties such as elasticity, plasticity, creep and fatigue. Finally, the up-to-date results are introduced.