• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2016

Nuclear fuel cladding used in a nuclear power plant must possess superior oxidation resistance in the coolant atmosphere of high temperature/high pressure. However, as was the case for the critical LOCA (loss-of-coolant accident) accident that took place in the Fukushima disaster, there is a risk of hydrogen explosion when the nuclear fuel cladding and steam reacts dramatically to cause a rapid high-temperature oxidation accompanied by generation of a huge amount of hydrogen. Hence, an active search is ongoing for an alternative material to be used for manufacturing of nuclear fuel cladding. Studies are currently aimed at improving the safety of this cladding. In particular, ceramic-based nuclear fuel cladding, such as SiC, is receiving much attention due to the excellent radiation resistance, high strength, chemical durability against oxidation and corrosion, and excellent thermal conduction of ceramics. In the present study, cladding with $SiC_f/SiC$ protective films was fabricated using a process that forms a matrix phase by polymer impregnation of polycarbosilane (PCS) after filament-winding the SiC fiber onto an existing Zry-4 cladding tube. It is analyzed the oxidation and microstructure of the metal cladding with $SiC_f/SiC$ composite protective films using a drop tube furnace for thermal shock test.

• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.31-41
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• 2007

Dome shape design methods of Filament Winding (FW) composite pressure vessel, which can suggest various dome contour according to the external loading conditions, were investigated analytically and numerically. The performance indices(PV/W) of the pressure vessels with same cylinder radius and boss opening but different dome shape were evaluated by finite element analysis under the internal pressure loading condition. The analysis results showed that as the dome shape becomes flat, the performance index decreases significantly due to the reduced burst pressure. Especially, for the case of the high value of the parameter ro, the ratio between the radii of the cylinder part and the boss opening, the flat dome is disadvantageous in the aspect of the weight reduction, and additional reinforcing dome design technique should be required to increase the burst pressure. For example, above ro=0.54 condition, the dome shape change according to the loading condition could cause the low burst pressure and increase of composite weight in dome region and is not recommendable except for the special case that maximum inner volume or sufficient space between skirt and dome is the primary design objective. However, at ro=0.35, the dome shape change brings not so significant differences in the performance of FW vessel.