A Deformation Model of Uranium-Silicide Dispersion Fuel for Research Reactor

A deformation model was developed to calculate the deformation of the uranium-silicide dispersion fuel (USi-Al) elements for research reactors. The model was based on the elasto-plasticity theory and power-law creep theory. Also, isotopic swelling was assumed for the fuel meat and isotropic thermal expansion for the fuel meat and dadding. The new model calculated successfully the deformation of the fuels of HANARO and NRU (in Canada). As the most important result, it was shown that the primary deformation mechanism in the fuel meat was swelling and that in the cladding was creep. For all cases simulated, the maximum hoop stress at cladding outer surface was lass than 5MPa, probably well below the yield stress of the dadding, and finally, the volume change was predicted to be less than 10% in the whole burnup range.