Creep and Yield Loci of Zircaloy Cladding at Elevated Temperatures

Abstract

Crystal plastic models are applied to textured Zircaloy in order to explain the recent experimental results on yield and creep loci by Suzuki et al. Crystallite orientation distribution functions were developed using texture pole figures obtained on cold-worked stress-relieved and recrystallized Zircaloy-4 tubings. The model predictions are in good agreement with experimental loci, and clearly point out the predominance of prism slip contribution for recrystallized material while the contribution of the basal slip increased as the amount of cold work increased.