Evaluation on failure behavior of hydrided RAG cladding using EDC experiments

Mihara, Takeshi  ; Fukuda, Takuji; Udagawa, Yutaka  ; Sugiyama, Tomoyuki ; Nagase, Fumihisa 

High burnup PWR fuel rods includes hydride rims that hydride accumulate the periphery of the rods. NSRR experiments of the fuels indicate that hydride rims plays a role of an initial crack of RIA failure behavior. In order to clarify the influence of interior hydrides other than the rims about RIA failure behavior, hydrided RAG (Roll after Grooving) fabricated fuel rods were performed with EDC (Expansion Due to Compression) experiments. Stress intensity factor analyses indicate that in case the radially-oriented hydrides are precipitated at the tip of the pre-crack, the stress state of the matrix at the tip of the hydrides is the same.