A Review of Finite Element Method Models for Nuclear Graphite Applications

Arregui-Mena, José David; Worth, Robert N.; Hall, Graham; Edmondson, Philip D.; Giorla, Alain B.; Burchell, Timothy D

doi:10.1007/s11831-018-09310-y

Cited by 19 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…However, exposure to the reactor environment causes intrinsically generated stresses due to oxidation, thermal gradients, and irradiation-induced dimensional change that can be significant. Modeling fracture initiation and propagation in graphite components requires capturing these effects, as summarized in a recent review paper [ 25 ] by Arregui-Mena et al in which the authors have presented a wide perspective on finite element studies conducted since the early 1970s using different commercial, noncommercial, general, and graphite-specialized codes. These phenomena are driven by multiple physics (e.g., heat transfer and radiation transport).…”

Section: Fracture Propagation Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Initial Fracture Propagation Modeling of Graphite Components with Grizzly

Spencer,

Munday,

Singh

et al. 2023

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Graphite has historically been extensively used in power reactor cores and will be used in multiple types of advanced reactors currently under development. These graphite structural components can experience significant stresses due to nonuniform volumetric strains induced by irradiation and thermal expansion, which can lead to fracture. Robust tools for predicting fracture initiation and propagation in graphite structural components in nuclear reactors are important for evaluating component integrity, developing design standards, and interpreting experimental results to characterize graphite performance. The U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation program has been developing degradation models for other structural components in nuclear reactors within the Grizzly and BlackBear codes. This report documents an effort to develop initial capabilities for modeling graphite fracture within these codes, building on prior efforts to model fracture in other materials. Major elements of this effort include developing a new system for modeling fracture nucleation and growth in two dimensions using the extended finite element method and incorporating a damage and plasticity model. These capabilities are applied here to model a representative graphite component and a splitting disc experiment used to obtain tensile strength.

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Section: Fracture Propagation Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Initial Fracture Propagation Modeling of Graphite Components with Grizzly

Spencer,

Munday,

Singh

et al. 2023

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“…In refs. [8,22], the accuracy and robustness of this approach were examined. After augmentation, all data are first split into two separate sections to ensure the feasibility of the experiment: a training set and a test set.…”

Section: Overall Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

Prediction Method of Three‐Dimensional Crack Propagation Path Based on Deep Learning Application

et al. 2020

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In engineering, most structural components suffer from local damage in service or fabrication. Under different loading conditions, such local damage will further expand to large cracks and structural collapse. For ensuring longevity and reliability, the study of brittle crack growth is important. In structural damage prediction, various methodologies are commonly used and have demonstrated success in the past. Most traditional simulation methods, however, have the problems of large calculation quantities and long calculation times. At the same time, the mutual influence of crack opening stress and crack image on crack widening is rarely considered in existing works based on the deep learning framework. Herein, a deep learning model is developed to predict the spread of fracture of brittle materials under stress to improve the aforementioned problems. By developing a nonlinear relationship between crack stress and damage effects, this approach predicts crack growth, thus avoiding the loss of required information on crack growth behavior. The model emphasizes repeatability and extensibility, which is verified using extended finite element method (XFEM) Abaqus software through multiple sets of material crack data generated. This model's potential applications are material design and evaluation of residual life.

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“…Finite element analysis (FEA) has been extensively used in a diverse field of applications [1][2][3][4]. Simulations have reduced the number of prototypes and tests required for optimization, shortening the product development cycle considerably [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of out-of-plane dimension on simplified geometric models in stress analysis

Saeed,

Awan,

Waiz

et al. 2023

Eng. Res. Express

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Without exception, every physical object is three-dimensional. However, in many stress analysis situations the analyst is justified in using simplified two-dimensional idealizations of plane stress and plane strain, reducing the complexity of the problem. By obviating the need to mesh in the third dimension, this advantage also extends to numerical studies, helping economize significantly on time and computational power requirements. In plane stress idealization the out-of-plane stresses are zero, whereas in plane strain the out-of-plane strains are zero. These idealizations have variously been linked with the out-of-plane dimension, as well as the end conditions of the object under consideration. However, the exact correlation of the out-of-plane dimension with these idealizations remains ambiguous. Unlike the case of plane stress, there is much disagreement found in literature regarding the necessary conditions for the realization of plane strain, which needs to be addressed. In this article, finite element analysis was employed to study the effect of various out-of-plane dimensions and end constraints. The results show that there is no correlation between the out-of-plane dimension and plane strain, which depends only on the end constraints. However, the out-of-plane dimension does result in the transition from plane stress to generalized plane strain.

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A Review of Finite Element Method Models for Nuclear Graphite Applications

Cited by 19 publications

References 78 publications

Initial Fracture Propagation Modeling of Graphite Components with Grizzly

Initial Fracture Propagation Modeling of Graphite Components with Grizzly

Prediction Method of Three‐Dimensional Crack Propagation Path Based on Deep Learning Application

Effect of out-of-plane dimension on simplified geometric models in stress analysis

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