Crack Resistance Curve Determination of Zircaloy-4 Cladding

摘要

Fracture mechanics properties of fuel claddings are important with respect to their integrity duringand after operation (e.g. axial split, transport damage, intermediate dry storage or final storage [1]).The integrity of fuel rods, in turn, is important for the fuel performance, for the safe handling of fuelrods, for the prevention of leakages and subsequent dissemination of fuel, for the avoidance ofunnecessary dose rates, for safe operation. Different factors can strongly deteriorate mechanicalfuel rod properties: irradiation damage, thermo-mechanical impact (e.g. creep), corrosion orhydrogen uptake. Fuel rod damages can quickly lead to increased costs and interventions by theauthorities.