Efficient rolling texture predictions and texture-sensitive properties of α-uranium foils

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.08.006· OSTI ID:1356244

Steiner, Matthew A. ^[1]; Klein, Robert W. ^[1]; Calhoun, Christopher A. ^[1]; Knezevic, Marko ^[2]; Garlea, Elena ^[3]; Agnew, Sean R. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)
2. Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States)
3. Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Here, finite element (FE) analysis was used to simulate the strain history of an α-uranium foil during cold-rolling, with the sheet modeled as an isotropic elastoplastic continuum. The resulting strain history was then used as input for a viscoplastic self-consistent (VPSC) polycrystal plasticity model to simulate crystallographic texture evolution. Mid-plane textures predicted via the combined FE→VPSC approach show alignment of the (010) poles along the rolling direction (RD), and the (001) poles along the normal direction (ND) with a symmetric splitting along RD. The surface texture is similar to that of the mid-plane, but with a shear-induced asymmetry that favors one of the RD split features of the (001) pole figure. Both the mid-plane and surface textures predicted by the FE→VPSC approach agree with published experimental results for cold-rolled α-uranium plates, as well as predictions made by a more computationally intensive full-field crystal plasticity based finite element model. α-uranium foils produced by cold-rolling must typically undergo a final recrystallization anneal to restore ductility prior to their final application, resulting in significant texture evolution from the cold-rolled plate deformation texture. Using the texture measured from a foil in the final recrystallized state, coefficients of the thermal expansion and elastic stiffness tensors were calculated using a thermo-elastic self-consistent model, and the anisotropic yield loci and flow curves along the RD, TD, and ND were predicted using the VPSC code.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: NA0001942
• OSTI ID: 1356244
• Report Number(s): MS/GAR-170420
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 495; ISSN 0022-3115
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
α-uranium
finite element
crystal plasticity
thermal expansion
rolling texture