Experimental and numerical study of fracture mechanisms in UO2 nuclear fuel. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gatt, J.-M.; Sercombe, J.; Aubrun, I.; Ménard, J.-C.
• Is Part Of: Engineering failure analysis. Volume 47 Part B(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 299
• Page End: 311
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Fracture -- Bending tests -- Indentation tests -- Nuclear fuel; System failures (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Fracture mechanics -- Periodicals; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Pannes -- Périodiques; Rupture, Mécanique de la -- Périodiques; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Fracture mechanics; Reliability (Engineering); System failures (Engineering); Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2014.07.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-6307

Abstract

Highlights: Bending tests are analyzed using a cohesive zone model, a smeared crack model and an analytical model. The critical stress concept is used in the models. We show that the three approaches are consistent. The model is applied to indentation tests performed on irradiated fuel. The toughness is the main parameter to differentiate irradiated fuels. Abstract: In this paper we study the brittle behavior of UO2 nuclear fuel. Firstly, we present the interpretation of bending tests with three different approaches to assess rupture parameters (critical stress and surface energy). Secondly, we present Vickers' indentation tests on fresh UO2 fuel. The comparison between bending and indentation tests on fresh fuel allows us to assess the parameters necessary to derive the critical stress and the surface energy from indentation tests. Vickers' indentation is then used to evaluate rupture parameters of irradiated fuels. At the end, we present some applications to fuel rod modeling taking into account the different rupture mechanisms.