On the relationship between texture and hydride orientation in zirconium

Abstract

Previous studies of hydride orientation in relation to texture have considered only intragranular hydride. Taking into account the particular crystallographic requirements for the grain boundary precipitation of hydride, which is the most common case, one arrives at certain restrictions regarding the orientation of hydride in different textures. This resolves the question as to why there are two principal directions for oriented hydride, radial and tangential, and also why there is often a preferred orientation parallel to the direction of maximum strain. Some implications on stress orientation are also discussed.