An advanced experimental design for modified burst testing of nuclear fuel cladding materials during transient loading. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cinbiz, M. Nedim; Gussev, Maxim; Linton, Kory; Terrani, Kurt A.
• Is Part Of: Annals of nuclear energy. Volume 127(2019)
• Page Start: 30
• Page End: 38
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Reactivity-initiated accident -- Rapid loading -- Pellet–cladding mechanical interaction -- Modified burst test -- Transient testing -- Mirror setup -- Digital image correlation (DIC); Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 621.4805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2018.11.051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4549

Abstract

Highlights: Capabilities of MBT has been assessed for separate-effects RIA type loading. MBT offers to mimic PCMI type of loading conditions. Optical setup is designed using a high-speed camera, telecentric lens, and mirrors. 360°-view of the sample allows tracking sample deformation. Applicability and the limitations of two-dimensional DIC are discussed. Abstract: An advanced tube-burst test system was designed to test samples of nuclear fuel cladding under conditions relevant to a postulated design-basis reactivity insertion accident (RIA) in light-water reactors. The system is based on the "driver tube" concept and allows for high-speed testing with internal pressure impulses of 10–1000 ms. To measure strain, the system was equipped with an ultra-high-speed video camera with a telecentric lens providing high focal depth, to compensate for specimen shift. A mirror system was developed to provide 360° view of the tube specimen into a single camera. Images taken during the test allow the use of a digital image correlation approach in strain evaluation. Several experiments were conducted to assess the performance of the experimental setup, and results are reported.