INVESTIGATION OF NEUTRON RADIATION EFFECTS ON THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF RECRYSTALLIZED ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS

International audienceNeutron radiation induces important changes in the mechanical behavior of recrystallized zirconium alloys used as fuel cladding tube. The neutron radiation effects on the mechanical behavior for internal pressure test performed at 350DC have been investigated using a specific analysis in terms of isotropic hardening, kinematic hardening and viscous stress. The impact of irradiation has been interpreted in terms of microscopic deformation mechanisms observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). It is proposed that because of the localization of the plastic deformation inside channels and because of the only activation of basal channeling, the kinematic hardening must be strong in irradiated zirconium alloys. A simple unified phenomenological modeling is also used in order to have a coherent description of the radiation effects on the mechanical behavior