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Some observations on time-hardening and strain-hardening rules for creep in Zircaloy-2

Journal Article · · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5339869

The role of accurate creep prediction in zirconium alloys, and the Zircaloys in particular, has become increasingly important in light water reactor core component design and behavior analyses. A study was made of the applicability of time-hardening and strain-hardening rules to describe creep deformation in Zircaloy-2 under variable stress and temperature conditions. Variable stress and variable temperature creep data were compared to isotonic (iso-stress) and isothermal data in the stress regime 69 to 172 MPa and the temperature regime 325 to 400/degree/C. It was observed that creep deformation under these variable conditions does not follow a time-hardening rule. This paper formulates strain-hardening rule, which describes well the variable temperature creep deformation at temperatures up to 375/degree/C. At 400/degree/C, however, the strain-hardening rule broke down because of a nonnegligible recovery rate. 28 refs.

Research Organization:
Univ of Calif, Santa Barbara, USA
OSTI ID:
5339869
Journal Information:
Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 53:1; ISSN NUTYB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English