Performance of cracks on the surface of SiC tritium penetration barrier based on Abaqus

Abstract

BackgroundDuring the service period of the tritium barrier coating in the fusion reactor, the crack performance of the coating surface and the roughness of the substrate are the key factors restricting the service cycle of the coating.PurposeThis study aims to clarify the relationship between substrate roughness and coating surface cracks in SiC/316L stainless steel tritium barrier coating system.MethodBased on the Abaqus finite element software, SiC/316L stainless steel tritium penetration barrier system was established. Factors such as the strain energy release rate, amplitude of substrate and length position were investigated with emphasis on the relationship between substrate roughness and coating surface cracks.ResultsThe results show that the substrate roughness has a significant effect on the strain energy release rate of the coating surface cracks. When the crack is above the peak of the substrate, the strain energy release rate is the largest. When the crack is located directly above the valley, the strain energy release rate is the smallest. Compared with the smooth interface, the stress along the rough interface is suppressed, showing a decreasing trend.ConclusionsThis study reveals the influence of crack position on the driving force of crack growth.

Keywords

• sic tritium penetration barrier
• multiple cracks on the surface
• strain energy release rate
• stress