Impact of Zirconium Hydride on the Fracture of a Zirconium Alloy: CrackTip Strain Mapping in Zircaloy-2

摘要

This paper describes use of synchrotron x-ray diffraction methods to map crack tip strain field evolution and initiation of twinning in fatigue pre-cracked Zircaloy-2. CT specimens were machined in two orientations from a rolled plate and loaded along the normal direction (ND) and the transverse direction (TD) to rolling. Residual strains due to fatigue and strains at applied K of approximately 10 and 30 MPa(m)~(0.5) were obtained for the two specimen orientations. Strain evolution and maps of the twinned region are presented in this paper.