Morphology prediction of elastically interacting Zr hydride precipitates and cracks in [formula omitted]-Zr using atomistically informed Eshelby’s ellipsoidal inclusion

Abstract

We propose an atomistically informed Eshelby’s inclusion analysis to investigate the morphology of secondary phases, which elastically interacted with each other through their respective local strain fields. Using the proposed method, we predict the morphology of δ-hydride precipitates and cracks, which interacted in the α–Zr matrix. Planar cracks nucleate along the basal-normal δ-hydride disk. And at the crack tip, the prismatic-normal δ-hydride disk also nucleates depending on the stress condition around the crack, constructing the hydride-crack network. The findings contribute to the understanding of the fracture mechanism of Zr alloys, such as delayed hydride cracking, which is caused by Zr hydride.