March 31, 2017
Book Chapter

Low Activation Joining of SiC/SiC Composites for Fusion Applications: Modeling Thermal and Irradiation-induced Swelling Effects on Integrity of Ti3SiC2/SiC Joint

Abstract

This work developed a continuum damage mechanics model that incorporates thermal expansion combined with irradiation-induced swelling effects to study the origin of cracking observed in recent irradiation experiments. Micromechanical modeling using an Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach was used to compute the thermoelastic properties of the Ti3SiC2/SiC joint needed for the model. In addition, a microstructural dual-phase Ti3SiC2/SiC model was developed to determine irradiation-induced swelling of the composite joint at a given temperature resulting from differential swelling of SiC and the Ti3SiC2 MAX phase. Three cases for the miniature torsion hourglass (THG) specimens containing a Ti3SiC2/SiC joint were analyzed corresponding to three irradiation temperatures: 800oC, 500oC, and 400oC.

Revised: May 22, 2017 | Published: March 31, 2017

Citation

Nguyen B., C.H. Henager, R.J. Kurtz, M. Ferraris, and Y. Katoh. 2017. Low Activation Joining of SiC/SiC Composites for Fusion Applications: Modeling Thermal and Irradiation-induced Swelling Effects on Integrity of Ti3SiC2/SiC Joint. In Fusion Materials Semiannual Progress Report For Period Ending December 31, 2016, edited by FW Wiffen and S Melton. 58-65. Oak Ridge, Tennessee:Oak Ridge National Laboratory. PNNL-SA-124093.