b'Mechanical TestingMethodology, Evaluation, Testing, and AnalysisPrincipal Investigator: Ben GarrisonTeam Members/Collaborators: C. Massey, W. Ren, M. Gussev, T. Graening, R. Sitterson, N. Capps, K. LintonI n support of a multi-laboratoryAccomplishmentscladding mechanical propertiesHistorical data created correlations database, Oak Ridge Nationalamong SSJ3, ATT, and RTT specimen Laboratorys cladding tube mechan- geometries with several materials ical test geometries were manufac- machined out of plate material, but tured out of several nuclear-relevantnone of the materials were similar to materials and tested. These geom- the textured, anisotropic zirconium-etries were optimized as mechanicalbased alloys used in nuclear industry test specimens that could beexcept for one Zircadyne rod. As a used on irradiated materials,result, this fiscal year (FY) SSJ3, ATT, including those from commercialand RTT specimens were machined reactors via in-cell machining. out of fully recrystallized Zircaloy-4 plate to obtain mechanical property Project Description: correlation data on a nuclear-relevant The goal of this project is to establish aalloy. Those correlations were consis-paradigm of mechanical testing meth- tent with the previous data, so it was odology, evaluation, testing, and anal- found that there were not sensitivities ysis (META) that produces precise andassociated with the Zircaloy-4 mate-repeatable mechanical property datarial. Furthermore, the short gauge on nuclear relevant material. In thislength RTT specimen was previously effort, mm-scale tube axial tensionshown to reduce strain gradients test (ATT) and ring tension test (RTT)across the gage length of the specimen mechanical test specimens that canduring testing, so correlation data was measure the mechanical properties ofgenerated for that new geometry.a tube geometry in the axial and hoop directions were developed that (1)To allow for higher burn-up times minimize nonuniform deformationand reduce the severity of loss-of-in the tensile regions, which makescoolant accidents, Advanced Fuels measured outcomes easier to relateCampaign is pursuing accident Figure 1. Procedure for geometry- to mechanical properties and (2)tolerant fuel materials that reduce based mechanical propertyminimize the material consumed peroxidation rates. One of these mate-correlation. Different specimentest, which becomes highly valuablerials being pursued is chromium-geometries of Identical material were machined from the same plate ofwith irradiated materials. Followingcoated zirconium alloys. This FY, fully recrystallized Zircaloy-4, and thethe geometry development, theas-received, Hybrid High Power mechanical properties obtained fromtechniques employed need to be docu- Impulse Magnetron Sputtering each geometry were compared tomented in a thorough and organizedCr-coated, and Cold-spray Cr-coated determine if there was any sensitivity to anisotropy and texture for a nuclearmanner so that material propertyZircaloy-4 tubes were machined relevant alloy information measured by the tech- into ATT and RTT geometries via niques are detailed and unambiguous. electric discharge machining and end mill machining to investigate 88 2023|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'