Simulating the behaviour of zirconium-alloy components in nuclear reactors

To prevent failure in nuclear components one needs to understand the interactions between adjacent materials and the changes in their physical properties during all phases of reactor operation. Three examples from CANDU reactors are described to illustrate the use of simulations that imitate complicated reactor situations. These are: swelling tests that led to a method for increasing the tolerance or Zircaloy fuel cladding to power ramps; observations of the behaviour of leaking cracks in Zr-2.5Nb pressure tubes that provide confidence in the use of leak-before-break as part of the defence against flaw development; and contact boiling tests on modifications to the surfaces of Zircaloy calandria tubes that enhance the ability of the heavy water moderator to act as a heat sink after a postulated loss-of-coolant accident. (author)