Establishment and application of a zirconium alloy irradiation deformation data mining database based on a mesoscale model

Abstract

BackgroundIn the nuclear industry, zirconium alloys, employed as structural materials, undergo irradiation-induced deformation owing to the combined effects of thermo, mechanical stress, and neutron irradiation during the irradiation process, thereby affecting their reliability in use.PurposeThis study aims to explore and predict the irradiation deformation of zirconium alloys to ensure the safety and economical operation of reactors.MethodsFirst of all, a database of experimental data on irradiation deformation of zirconium alloys from publicly available literature was developed by collection, cleaning, re-organization and placement of these data into a well-designed database, accompanied by detailed descriptions of these data. Then, data patterns, model validation and data mining were conducted by combining the database with our own developed mesoscopic model. Specifically, over fifty sets of preliminary data from the data mining library were subjected to data mining to analyze the correlation between model parameters and control variables.ResultsData mining results indicate that the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) of the slip system increases with Nb content whilst the irradiation creep compliance of zirconium alloys increases with temperature.ConclusionsCompared with conventional data induction methods, this study introduces a novel approach for fitting and data mining using a physics-based mesoscopic model, offering fresh perspectives and methodologies for studying irradiation-induced deformation in zirconium alloys. The impact of this approach will be boosted as the collected dataset expands.

Keywords

• zirconium alloy
• irradiation deformation
• mesoscale models
• data mining database
• visco plastic self consistent model