Work

Fracture behavior of grain boundaries in (U,Pu)O 2 fuels: An atomistic study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Classical atomistic simulations using the Cooper–Rushston–Grimes potential were carried out to observe the stability and the fracture properties of six special grain boundaries in (, . The formation energy decreases as a function of Pu content, while the cleavage energy increases. Mechanical tensile tests were performed on these grain boundaries to calculate the fracture stress and fracture energy. Some grain boundaries exhibit a phase transition prior to brittle fracture. The conditions for the appearance of this phase transition depend on the stress field values before the fracture, which are influenced by the Pu content. The Pu content appears to enhance the fracture resistance of the grain boundaries, as indicated by the fracture energy and cleavage energy.

Source: Journal of the American Ceramic Society

DOI: 10.1111/jace.70326

Authors: C. Chil, A. Pivano, B. Michel, E. Bourasseau

Institutions: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, CEA Cadarache, Institut de Recherche sur les Systèmes Nucléaires pour la production d'Energie bas carbone

Language: English

Topic: Nuclear Materials and Properties

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,070

Funders: Électricité de France, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Framatome