Projects per year
Abstract
In this paper, the authors test the hypothesis that tiny spatial variations in material properties may lead to significant pre-service stresses in virgin graphite bricks. To do this, they have customized ParaFEM, an open source parallel finite element package, adding support for stochastic thermo-mechanical analysis using the Monte Carlo Simulation method. For an Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor brick, three heating cases have been examined: a uniform temperature change; a uniform temperature gradient applied through the thickness of the brick and a simulated temperature profile from an operating reactor. Results are compared for mean and stochastic properties. These show that, for the proof-of-concept analyses carried out, the pre-service von Mises stress is around twenty times higher when spatial variability of material properties is introduced. The paper demonstrates that thermal gradients coupled with material incompatibilities may be important in the generation of stress in nuclear graphite reactor bricks. Tiny spatial variations in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and Young’s modulus can lead to the presence of thermal stresses in bricks that are free to expand
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 793-804 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Nuclear Materials |
Volume | 465 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 19 Jun 2015 |
Keywords
- Gilsocarbon
- Thermo-mechanical
- Monte Carlo Simulation
- Graphite
- Nuclear
- Reactor
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Spatial variability in the coefficient of thermal expansion induces pre-service stresses in computer models of virgin Gilsocarbon bricks'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Graphite Cracking.
Mummery, P. (PI), Jones, A. (CoI), Marsden, B. (CoI), Schmidt, M. (CoI) & Yates, J. (CoI)
1/06/13 → 31/05/15
Project: Research
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QUBE : Quasi-Brittle fracture: a 3-D experimentally-validated approach
Mummery, P. (PI), Jivkov, A. (CoI) & Yang, Z. (CoI)
1/10/12 → 30/09/15
Project: Research
Research output
- 1 Paper
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The stochastic finite element method and its possible use in thermo-mechanical drift calculations
Margetts, L., Arregui-Mena, J. & Mummery, P., 15 Jun 2016.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
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STFC Hartree Centre
Margetts, L. (Visiting researcher)
27 Jun 2016 → 1 Jul 2016Activity: External visiting positions or secondments › Visiting an external academic institution › Research
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2nd PACMAN Workshop
Margetts, L. (Invited speaker)
13 Jun 2016 → 15 Jun 2016Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research