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Fracture of Graphite Fuel Bricks

Reference Number
EP/L504725/1
Title
Fracture of Graphite Fuel Bricks
Status
Completed
Energy Categories
Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies)
Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Other converter reactors)
Research Types
Applied Research and Development
Science and Technology Fields
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation
Not Cross-cutting
Principal Investigator
Professor P Mummery
Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
University of Manchester
Award Type
Standard
Funding Source
EPSRC
Start Date
01 June 2013
End Date
30 November 2015
Duration
30 months
Total Grant Value
£413,476
Industrial Sectors
Energy
Region
North West
Programme
Energy : Energy
Investigators
Principal Investigator
Professor P Mummery, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Other Investigator
Dr A Jones, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Professor BJ Marsden, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Dr MJJ Schmidt, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Professor JR Yates, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract
The graphite core in nuclear Advanced Gas cooled Reactors (AGRs) provides channel for fuel cooling and shutdown/control rod insertion. Damage tolerance assessments need to determine that adequate margins remain for theintegrity of the fuel and the safety systems proper behaviour. For UK existing plants, graphite bricks' cracking is a keyquestion regarding lifetime management decisions. For the next generation plants, it has an influence on expected lifetimesand on investment plans.The objective of this proposal is to gain a good understanding and evaluation of fracture in graphite components bycomplementary numerical and experimental approaches. An advanced modelling tool allowing to simulate automaticallycrack propagation in graphite bricks will be developed and transferred to industry end-users. An innovative experimentalmethod will be elaborated to validate these models. Uncertainties on the whole core mechanical behaviour will be assessed
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Added to Database
13/03/13