• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.175-181
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• 2019

A failed spent fuel rod with 53,000 MWd/tU from a nuclear power plant was characterized, and the fission products and oxygen layer in the pellet-clad mechanical interaction region were observed using an EPMA (Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer). A sound fuel rod burned under similar conditions was used to compare and analyze, the results of the failed fuel rod. In the failed fuel rod, the oxide layer represented $10{\mu}m$ of the boundary of the cladding, and $35{\mu}m$ of the region outside the cladding. By comparison, in the sound fuel rod, the oxide layer was $8{\mu}m$, observed in the cladding boundary region. The cladding inner surface corrosion and the resulting fuel-cladding bonding were investigated using an EPMA. Zirconium existed in the bonding layer of the (U, Zr)O compound beyond the pellet cladding interaction gap of $20{\mu}m$, and composition of UZr2O3 was observed in the failed fuel rod. This paper presents the results of the EPMA examination of a spent fuel specimen, and a technique to analyze fission products in the pellet-clad mechanical interaction region.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.246-252
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• 2018

A series of simulated reactivity-initiated accident (RIA) tests on irradiated fully recrystallized boiling water reactor Zircaloy-2 cladding has been performed by means of the expansion-due-to-compression (EDC) test method. The EDC method reproduces fuel pellet-clad mechanical interaction (PCMI) conditions for the cladding during RIA transients with respect to temperature and loading rates by out-of-pile mechanical testing. The tested materials had a large variation in burnup and hydrogen content (up to 907 wppm). The results of the EDC tests showed variation in the PCMI resistance of claddings with similar burnup and hydrogen content, making it difficult to clearly identify ductile-to-brittle transition temperatures. The EDC-tested samples of the present and previous work were investigated by light optical and scanning electron microscopy to study the influence of factors such as azimuthal variation of the Zr-hydrides and the presence of hydride rims and radially oriented hydrides. Two main characteristics were identified in samples with low ductility with respect to hydrogen content and test temperature: hydride rims and radial hydrides at the cladding outer surface. Crack propagation and failure modes were also studied, showing two general modes of crack propagation depending on distribution and amount of radially oriented hydrides. It was concluded that the PCMI resistance of irradiated cladding under normal conditions with homogenously distributed circumferential hydrides is high, with good margin to the RIA failure limits. To further improve safety, focus should be on conditions causing nonfavorable hydride distribution, such as hydride reorientation and formation of hydride blisters at the cladding outer surface.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 2002년도 춘계공동학술발표회요약집
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• pp.239.1-239
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• 2002

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.88-104
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• 1988

이차원의 유한요소법을 이용하여 axisymmetric R-$\theta$system으로 나누어서 정상과 부하추종 운전시에 핵연료 페렛트와 피복관의 열역학적 거동을 분석하기 위해서 FURA전산코드를 개발하였다. 온도분포와 내부압력을 정확히 계산하기 위해서 페렛트와 피복관의 변형과 핵분열의 기체방출을 전체 핵연료봉 길이로 고려하였다. 열역학적 평 형방정식을 얻기 위해서 Galerkin's Technique과 가상일의 원리를 사용하였고 역학적 해석을 위해서 탄성-소성, 크리프뿐만아니라 스엘링, 재배열, 고밀화 현상등을 고려하였다. 기하학적 모델에서는 4-결점 요소라 페레트 길이의 1/2만을 택하였다. 비선형식을 안정하게 해석하기 위해서 음해법을 도입하여 뉴튼-랩손 반복법을 적용하였다 이 코드의 검증은 해석해와 실험데이타로 비교하였다. 핵연료봉의 일반적인 거동은 axisymmetry system으로 계산하였고 균열된 페레트에 접촉하는 피복관의 거동은 R-$\theta$system을 사용하였다. 부하추종에 의한 피복관의 변형시효의 민감도는 출력율, 진동수, 진폭등으로 비교하였다.