Influence of stress field of expanding and contracting plate shaped precipitate on hydride embrittlement of Zr-alloys

Summary, in English

The stress fields of expanding (precipitation) and contracting (dissolution) hydride plates were computed by finite element method using Zr-H solid solution and hydride properties at 25, 200 and 400 degrees C for fully and semi-constrained hydride plates. For the first time simultaneous hydride expansion and matrix contraction and vice-versa have been considered in a simulation of hydride precipitation and dissolution, respectively. It was observed that a fully constrained expanding hydride plate exerts a tensile stress field in the matrix close to the edge of the hydride plate while a partially contracting hydride plate exerts a tensile stress field in the hydride plate as well as a large compressive stress in the surrounding matrix close to the edge of the hydride plate. It is suggested that a compressive stress component in the matrix acting normal to a partially shrinking hydride plate could possibly explain an enhanced resistance to hydride embrittlement of Zr-alloy at elevated temperature. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

• Author: R. N. Singh; H. K. Khandelwal; A. K. Bind; S. Sunil; Per Ståhle
• Department/s: Solid Mechanics
• Publishing year: 2013
• Language: English
• Pages: 157-163
• Publication/Series: Materials Science & Engineering: A
• Volume: 579
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2013.04.117
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Mechanical Engineering
• Keywords: Zr-alloy; Hydride embrittlement; Fracture toughness; Stress-field; Fully; constrained
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1873-4936