Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Segmented mandrel tests of as-received and hydrogenated WWER fuel cladding tubes

  • Received : 2020.08.06
  • Accepted : 2021.03.21
  • Published : 2021.09.25
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Abstract

The mechanical interaction between the fuel pellet and the cladding tube of a nuclear fuel rod is a very important for safety studies as this phenomenon could lead to fuel failure and release of radioactivity. To investigate the ductility of cladding tubes used in WWER type nuclear power plants, several mandrel tests were performed in the Centre for Energy Research (EK). This modified mandrel test was used to model the mechanical interaction between the fuel pellet and the cladding using a segmented tool. The tests were conducted at room temperature and at 300 ℃ with inactive as-received and hydrogenated cladding ring samples. The results show a gradual decrease in ductility as the hydrogen content increases, the ductile-brittle transition was seen above 1500 ppm hydrogen absorbed.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The research activities presented were supported by Paks NPP (contract number: 4000172048. EK-G-1175/2015). The National Research, Development and Innovation Fund of Hungary (contract number: NVKP_16-1-2016-0014) and the European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management (EURAD) Spent Fuel Characterisation and evolution until disposal (SFC) workpackage (EU grant agreement number: 847593). There is no conflict of interest in the funding and the publication of this research.

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