Coupling the Corrosion-and Pressure-Assisted Stress Buildup Within the Zirconium in PWR Pipes

Abstract

We have developed a new real-time framework for calculating the simultaneous accumulation of oxidation-induced and the internal/external fluid stresses during the corrosion of the zirconium metal, Zr. In order to track such interfacial stress when the zirconium metal turns oxide, we quantify the hypothetical real-time infiltration of the oxygen within the metal matrix in the curved boundary, leading to the augmentation in the volume, and we stoichiometrically compute the resulted equivalent oxide thickness. Subsequently, we calculate the accumulated compressive stress in real-time from both irreversible (plastic) and reversible (elastic) events which could be used for anticipation of the onset of failure. The developed analytical framework could quantify the design parameters for the safe operation of high-pressure pipes in corrosive environments. © 2022, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.