A phase-field approach to model multi-axial and microstructure dependent fracture in nuclear grade graphite
Abstract
The fracture behavior of nuclear grade graphites is strongly influenced by underlying microstructural features such as the character of filler particles, and the distribution of pores and voids. These microstructural features influence the crack nucleation and propagation behavior, resulting in quasi-brittle fracture with a tortuous crack path and significant scatter in measured bulk strength. This paper uses a phase-field method to model the microstructural and multi-axial fracture in H-451, a historic variant of nuclear graphite that provides the basis for an idealized study on a legacy grade. The representative volume elements are constructed from randomly located pores with random size obtained from experimentally determined log-normal distribution. The representative volume elements are then subjected to simulated multi-axial loading, and a reasonable agreement of the resulting fracture stress with experiments is obtained. Finally, quasi-brittle stress-strain evolution with a tortuous crack path is also observed from the simulations and is consistent with experimental results.
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1357605
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1341167
- Report Number(s):
- INL/JOU-15-37467
Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3115; PII: S0022311516301209
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Nuclear Materials
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 475; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3115
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; fracture; nuclear grade graphite; phase-field model
Citation Formats
Chakraborty, Pritam, Sabharwall, Piyush, and Carroll, Mark C. A phase-field approach to model multi-axial and microstructure dependent fracture in nuclear grade graphite. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.04.006.
Chakraborty, Pritam, Sabharwall, Piyush, & Carroll, Mark C. A phase-field approach to model multi-axial and microstructure dependent fracture in nuclear grade graphite. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.04.006
Chakraborty, Pritam, Sabharwall, Piyush, and Carroll, Mark C. Thu .
"A phase-field approach to model multi-axial and microstructure dependent fracture in nuclear grade graphite". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.04.006. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1357605.
@article{osti_1357605,
title = {A phase-field approach to model multi-axial and microstructure dependent fracture in nuclear grade graphite},
author = {Chakraborty, Pritam and Sabharwall, Piyush and Carroll, Mark C.},
abstractNote = {The fracture behavior of nuclear grade graphites is strongly influenced by underlying microstructural features such as the character of filler particles, and the distribution of pores and voids. These microstructural features influence the crack nucleation and propagation behavior, resulting in quasi-brittle fracture with a tortuous crack path and significant scatter in measured bulk strength. This paper uses a phase-field method to model the microstructural and multi-axial fracture in H-451, a historic variant of nuclear graphite that provides the basis for an idealized study on a legacy grade. The representative volume elements are constructed from randomly located pores with random size obtained from experimentally determined log-normal distribution. The representative volume elements are then subjected to simulated multi-axial loading, and a reasonable agreement of the resulting fracture stress with experiments is obtained. Finally, quasi-brittle stress-strain evolution with a tortuous crack path is also observed from the simulations and is consistent with experimental results.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.04.006},
journal = {Journal of Nuclear Materials},
number = ,
volume = 475,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
A Review of Finite Element Method Models for Nuclear Graphite Applications
journal, December 2018
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- Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, Vol. 27, Issue 1