b'SiC exhibits nonlinear damagingadvanced microstructure character- Figure 2. 3D rendering mechanical behavior governed byizations using electron microscopyresult of Sample 1microcracking within the materialtechniques such as Focused Ion Beam under different conditions, such as(FIB)/Scanning Electron Microscopy the stress-state induced by irradia- (SEM) and Transmission ElectronThe multiscale tion, and pellet cladding mechanicalMicroscopy (TEM) were conducted.characterization interaction (PCMI) under accidentThis complements the findingsdataset for defects conditions. Morphology of defects,from the XCT data, in particularin SiC CMCs and the including size, shape of voids, is one ofquantification of nano-porosity andstatistical method the key factors which impact claddingmicrocracks. In this project, threeenhance the predictable performance and guarantees reactorSiC samples (two irradiated, notedmodeling capability of safety. Therefore, quantification ofas Sample 1 and Sample 2, and oneSiC fracture behavior defects size, location, distribution, andunirradiated as Sample 3) provided byunder irradiation and leak paths are critical to determiningGeneral Atomics are investigated. Thedynamic loads.SiC cladding in-core performance.automated workflow developed in This project provided qualitativethis work enabled identification of the insight into the defects distributiondefects in the irradiated samples that under multi-scale characterizationwere not present in the unirradiated before and after different TREATsample. The statistics of the defects irradiation tests. A non-destructiveand characteristics can inform the evaluation technique based on 3Dmechanical responses of SiC cladding X-ray imaging help to assess criticalin accidents and can be later corre-microstructural defects from manu- lated to manufacturing for processing facturing or PCMI testing. Followingand performance improvement, as the X-ray Computed Tomographywell as modeling and simulations.(XCT) data analysis and visualization, 2023|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS 59'