Evaluation of the radiation damage effect on mechanical properties in Tehran research reactor (TRR) clad

Abstract

Radiation damage is one of the aging important causes in nuclear reactors. Radiation damage causes changes in material properties. In this study, this effect has been evaluated and analyzed on the clad of the Tehran research reactor (TRR). A grade 6061 aluminum is used as a clad in the TRR. The MCNPX code is used to designate the most sensitive location of the reactor and calculate neutron flux distribution. Then, a software using FORTRAN language programming is developed to process the particle track (PTRAC) output file of the MCNPX code. The SRIM code is used here to calculate the rate of displacement per atom. Moreover, the SPECOMP and SPECTER codes are also applied to estimate the displacement rate and compared with the results attained using the SRIM code. The rate of displacement per atom by the SPECTER and SRIM codes have been obtained 2.54×10−7 dpa/s and 2.44×10−7dpa/s (QD method), respectively. Also, the mechanical properties have been evaluated using the RCC-MRx code and have been compared with experimental results. Finally, the change in the matter specification has been analyzed as a function of time.

Keywords

• Radiation damage
• Al-6061
• SPECTER
• SRIM
• MCNPX
• TRR