Ultrasonic testing of irradiated fuel sheathing

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1973

OSTI ID:4937872

Patel, H B; Ditschun, A; Hunton, A E

Zirconium alloy sheathing from nuclear fuel elements that had contained uranium dioxide fuel pellets irradiated to a burnup of 103 to 161 MWh/kg U (4290 to 6707 MWd/t) was tested. after removin loose pellets, by an ultrasonic pulse- echo technique using 15 MHz shear waves. The ultrasonic signals were correlated with metallographically observed defects. The results indicate that the test can detect irradiation-related primary incipient and secondary defects in the fuel sheathing. The test is capable of detecting defects having a depth as small as 10% of the 0.4 mm wall thickness. Tests on fuel elements containin uranium dioxide pellets indicate that sheath cracks can be detected ultrasonically even in the presence of cracked pellets. The ultrasonic test can be developed into a valuable aid in post-irradiation fuel examination by identifying regions for subsequent destructive examination. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ontario. Chalk River Nuclear Labs.
• Sponsoring Organization: Sponsor not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-29-020810
• OSTI ID: 4937872
• Report Number(s): AECL--4655; CONF-731014--2
• Country of Publication: Canada
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CANDU REACTOR
DEFECTS
FUEL CANS
N42400* --Engineering--Materials Testing
ULTRASONIC TESTING
URANIUM DIOXIDE
ZIRCALOY