Criteria for fracture initiation at hydrides in zirconium-2. 5 pct niobium alloy. [Candu Reactor Pressure Tube Fractures]
Pressure tubes made of cold-worked Zr-2.5 pct Nb alloy provide the primary containment for coolant in the CANDU nuclear reactor system. The conditions for fracture of a hydride platelet in a zirconium matrix were sought by testing tensile specimens containing hydrides oriented with the normals of the platelet parallel to the tensile axis. Acoustic emission is monitored to signal the fracture event. It is concluded that some plastic deformation must precede hydride fracture and that fracture is encouraged by a triaxial stress state. The fracture mechanism appears to be one of slip-induced crack nucleation in the hydrides with the critical event being the growth to a critical size. 32 refs.
- Research Organization:
- Whiteshell Nucl Res Establ, Pinawa, Manit, Can
- OSTI ID:
- 5277447
- Journal Information:
- Metall. Trans., A; (United States), Journal Name: Metall. Trans., A; (United States) Vol. 12:12; ISSN MTTAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
HABIT PLANE OF HYDRIDE PRECIPITATION IN ZIRCONIUM AND ZIRCONIUM-URANIUM
Anisotropic behavior and rupture of hydrided Zircaloy-4 sheets
Related Subjects
210400* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Otherwise Moderated or Unmoderated
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103 -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
ACOUSTIC EMISSION TESTING
ACOUSTIC TESTING
ALLOYS
CANDU TYPE REACTORS
COOLANT LOOPS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FAILURES
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FRACTOGRAPHY
FRACTURES
HEAVY WATER MODERATED REACTORS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS TESTING
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE TUBE REACTORS
PRESSURE TUBES
REACTORS
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMAL REACTORS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TUBES
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM HYDRIDES