Abstract
The theoretical work on the criterion for fracture initiation at hydrides at sharp crack tips in zirconium alloys is extended to include the effect of hydrogen concentration in solid solution on the threshold stress intensity factor, KIH. The analysis shows that the crack-tip hydride can only grow to a certain maximum length which depends on hydrogen concentration in solution and the stress intensity factor. Analytical and numerical solutions of the critical hydride length for fracture show that it increases as temperature increases and as the stress intensity factor decreases. These results are used to develop the relationship between the hydrogen concentration in solution and KIH. This shows that KIHincreases as the hydrogen concentration in solution decreases. The variation of the crack-tip critical hydride length with temperature, yield strength and applied KIis also derived and the results compared with striation spacing data obtained from fracture surfaces.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 30-36 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Nuclear Materials |
| Volume | 218 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1995 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nuclear and High Energy Physics
- General Materials Science
- Nuclear Energy and Engineering