Effect of Specimen Thickness on Threshold Stress Intensity Factor (KIH) Associated with DHC in Zr-2.5 Nb Alloy Pressure Tube Material

What is it about?

Zr-alloy components used as in-core structural materials in water cooled reactors are susceptible to slow crack growth process called delayed hydride cracking, which is assoicated with the threhold stress intensity factor below which crack growth is immesurable. The thickness of the Zr-alloy components varies and governs the state of stress that affects the threshold value. In this work threhold stress intensity factor associate with Zr-2.5Nb alloy was experimentally determined and FEM simulation was used to understand the role of competing crack growth mechanisms.

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