Development of end-plug joint for SiC cladding and its evaluation during a severe accident

Ishibashi, Ryo*; Hirosaka, Kazuma*; Yamana, Takashi*; Shibata, Masatoshi*; Sasaki, Masana*; Nemoto, Yoshiyuki  ; Hinoki, Tatsuya*

As a cladding material for accident tolerant fuel, SiC is expected to have an advantage in elevated temperature resistance compared to other candidate materials. End-plug joints are exposed to elevated temperature by heat-upped fuel pellets and loading by difference in internal and external pressure of cladding during a severe accident. For performing sufficient strength against severe accident conditions, we are developing an end-plug joint consisted of mechanical fastening and brazing and evaluation methods for its joint strength. Objectives in this study are to evaluate strength and deformation behavior of the joint using tensile testing and to analyze the deformation mechanism based on estimated loading and temperature conditions during a severe accident. The evaluation results using tensile testing provided information for evaluating the joint by inter pressure testing in the next stage.