Stress Analysis and Structural Optimization of a Three-Layer Composite Cladding Tube Under Thermo-Mechanical Loads

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4006510· OSTI ID:1049380

Zhou, S -S; Gao, X -L; Griffith, G W

A general solution for the stress and strain fields in a three-layer composite tube subjected to internal and external pressures and temperature changes is first derived using thermo-elasticity. The material in each layer is treated as orthotropic, and the composite tube is regarded to be in a generalized plane strain state. A three-layer ZRY4-SiCf/SiCSiC composite cladding tube under a combined pressure and thermal loading is then analyzed and optimized by applying the general solution. The effects of temperature changes, applied pressures, and layer thickness on the mechanical behavior of the tube are quantitatively studied. The von Mises failure criterion for isotropic materials and the Tsai-Wu's failure theory for composites are used, respectively, to predict the failure behavior of the monolithic ZRY4 (i.e., Zircaloy-4) inner layer and SiC outer layer and the composite SiCf/SiC core layer of the three-layer tube. The numerical results reveal that the maximum radial and circumferential stresses in each layer always occur on the bonding surfaces. By adjusting the thickness of each layer, the effective stress in the three-layer cladding tube under the prescribed thermal-mechanical loading can be changed, thereby making it possible to optimally design the cladding tube.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 1049380
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-12-26984; JEMTA8; TRN: US201218%%1445
• Journal Information: Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, Vol. 134, Issue 3; ISSN 0094-4289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
BEHAVIOR
BONDING
CLADDING
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DESIGN
FAILURES
LAYERS
OPTIMIZATION
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
STRAINS
STRESS ANALYSIS
STRESSES
SURFACES
THERMOMECHANICAL TREATMENTS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMOELASTICITY
THICKNESS
TUBES
ZIRCALOY 4
cladding tube
failure theory
optimal design
SiC
stress analysis
thermal stress
Zircaloy-4