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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/L504725/1
Title Fracture of Graphite Fuel Bricks
Status Completed
Energy Categories Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies) 50%;
Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Other converter reactors) 50%;
Research Types Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Professor P Mummery
No email address given
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 (99.996%)
  Other Investigator Professor BJ Marsden , Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester (0.001%)
Dr MJJ Schmidt , Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester (0.001%)
Dr A Jones , Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester (0.001%)
Professor JR Yates , Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester (0.001%)
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
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 13/03/13