Effect of hydride embrittlement on creep life of spent fuel cladding

摘要

In this study, we propose a rupture criterion for the creep crack growth in Zircaloy cladding on spent fuel in dry storage. Based on the creep fracture mechanics parameter, C*, and the strain energy density criteria, the relationship between the creep crack growth rate and the fracture mechanics parameter, C*, is established theoretically. The effects of hydride embrittlement, initial crack lengths, and storage temperature profiles on cladding failure are discussed in detail. The results show that the initial crack length and the storage temperature profile play an important role in cladding failure during interim dry storage. We found that the creep life in the presence of hydrides is only slightly shorter than that without the presence of hydrides. The methodology appears to be helpful to the evaluation of spent fuel rod cladding in dry storage.View full textDownload full textKeywordscreep crack growth, spent fuel, hydride embrittlementRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02533839.2011.553029