b'tion effects on the SiC test articles.facture SiC test articles to fit within The second capsule has the samethe thimble plug assembly location dimensions as the first capsule withwhile maintaining representative small penetrations to allow for inte- geometry, strength, and leak tight-rior coolant flow to investigate SiCness when compared to the slightly corrosion under commercial PWRlarger ATF cladding geometry. These conditions. The conceptual layoutperformance results give confidence of the irradiation capsules with SiCthat PIE on the SiC test articles will test articles is shown in Figure 1. provide relevant data for the devel-Preliminary drawings have alsoopment and commercial implemen-been completed for five differenttation of ATF SiGA cladding.SiC test articles. GA-EMS downTo support the irradiation modeling selected these test articles basedeffort, SI has incorporated SiC on data needs and post irradiationproperty models for composite examination planning developedand monolithic SiC into their in the past year. The first capsulefinite element fuel performance will have four different variations ofcode PEGASUS. The SiC models interior SiC test articles: 1) a closedhave been validated through test SiC rod for hermeticity and endcapcase comparison and work has joint strength testing, 2) two openbegun to develop a 3D model of the SiC tubes for axial strength testing,irradiation experiment. Accurate 3) five open SiC tubes for hoopmodeling of the capsules and SiC strength testing, and 4) GA-EMStest articles will provide data to produced SiC fiber in a carbonsupport licensing of the irradiation, holder. The second capsule willinform follow-on PIE, and provide a include: 5) two Chemical Vapormodeling framework for facilitation Deposition SiC cylinders with repre- of future commercial irradiations.sentative corrosion coatings (SiC/ The GA-EMS team is continuing Cr) for corrosion testing. The testto progress the irradiation design articles are held securely within theand will complete design, manufac-capsules with a spring and are sepa- turing, and preliminary licensing rated from the capsule and otherover the next year.test articles with spacers. Previous work in year one of the program had demonstrated the ability to manu-146 2023|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'