A theoretical and experimental study of hydrides in zirconium alloys

A method developed for computing the critical length and thickness of hydride plates formed in delayed hydride cracking (DHC) in zirconium alloys is considered. The model is based on analyzing the distribution of tensile stresses in the plane of a sharp normal tensile crack. The characteristics of hydrides formed due to DHC in reactor tubes produced from alloy Zr-2.5% Nb are determined experimentally. The results of the computation agree well with experimental data.