Experimentally informed multi-scale modelling of mechanical properties of quasi-brittle nuclear graphite

Branko Šavija; Dong Liu; Gillian E Smith; Keith R Hallam; Erik Schlangen; Peter Flewitt

doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2015.10.043

Experimentally informed multi-scale modelling of mechanical properties of quasi-brittle nuclear graphite

Branko Šavija, Dong Liu, Gillian E Smith, Keith R Hallam, Erik Schlangen, Peter Flewitt

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nuclear graphite has a complex microstructure and displays quasi-brittle fracture characteristics. Multi-scale experimental characterisation (micrometre-scale to centimetre-scale) and numerical modelling were performed for (i) PG25 filter graphite with pores only (52 vol.%); and (ii) Gilsocarbon nuclear graphite with pores and aggregates. Modelling results show that the average mechanical properties and the scatter of the data both decrease monotonically with increase in specimen size. Strain fields and crack patterns were modelled and fit with experimental observations. The benefits of the model as a valuable tool in studying the influence of microstructural parameters on the fracture of nuclear graphites are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	360-377
Number of pages	18
Journal	Engineering Fracture Mechanics
Volume	153
Early online date	29 Dec 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2015.10.043
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2016

Keywords

Nuclear graphite
Quasi-brittle fracture
Micro-cantilever testing
Multi-scale modelling

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10.1016/j.engfracmech.2015.10.043

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UNIGRAF - Understanding and improving graphite for nuclear fission
Flewitt, P. E. J.
31/08/15 → 28/02/19
Project: Research
QUBE:- QUasi-Brittle fracture: a 3D Experimentally-validated approach
Flewitt, P. E. J.
1/10/12 → 1/04/16
Project: Research

Dr Lilly Liu
- Dong.Liubristol.acuk
- School of Physics - Associate Professor
- Solid Mechanics
Person: Academic , Member

Cite this

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title = "Experimentally informed multi-scale modelling of mechanical properties of quasi-brittle nuclear graphite",

abstract = "Nuclear graphite has a complex microstructure and displays quasi-brittle fracture characteristics. Multi-scale experimental characterisation (micrometre-scale to centimetre-scale) and numerical modelling were performed for (i) PG25 filter graphite with pores only (52 vol.%); and (ii) Gilsocarbon nuclear graphite with pores and aggregates. Modelling results show that the average mechanical properties and the scatter of the data both decrease monotonically with increase in specimen size. Strain fields and crack patterns were modelled and fit with experimental observations. The benefits of the model as a valuable tool in studying the influence of microstructural parameters on the fracture of nuclear graphites are discussed.",

keywords = "Nuclear graphite, Quasi-brittle fracture, Micro-cantilever testing, Multi-scale modelling",

author = "Branko {\v S}avija and Dong Liu and Smith, {Gillian E} and Hallam, {Keith R} and Erik Schlangen and Peter Flewitt",

year = "2016",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.engfracmech.2015.10.043",

language = "English",

volume = "153",

pages = "360--377",

journal = "Engineering Fracture Mechanics",

issn = "0013-7944",

publisher = "Amsterdam:Elsevier",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Experimentally informed multi-scale modelling of mechanical properties of quasi-brittle nuclear graphite

AU - Šavija, Branko

AU - Liu, Dong

AU - Smith, Gillian E

AU - Hallam, Keith R

AU - Schlangen, Erik

AU - Flewitt, Peter

PY - 2016/3/1

Y1 - 2016/3/1

N2 - Nuclear graphite has a complex microstructure and displays quasi-brittle fracture characteristics. Multi-scale experimental characterisation (micrometre-scale to centimetre-scale) and numerical modelling were performed for (i) PG25 filter graphite with pores only (52 vol.%); and (ii) Gilsocarbon nuclear graphite with pores and aggregates. Modelling results show that the average mechanical properties and the scatter of the data both decrease monotonically with increase in specimen size. Strain fields and crack patterns were modelled and fit with experimental observations. The benefits of the model as a valuable tool in studying the influence of microstructural parameters on the fracture of nuclear graphites are discussed.

AB - Nuclear graphite has a complex microstructure and displays quasi-brittle fracture characteristics. Multi-scale experimental characterisation (micrometre-scale to centimetre-scale) and numerical modelling were performed for (i) PG25 filter graphite with pores only (52 vol.%); and (ii) Gilsocarbon nuclear graphite with pores and aggregates. Modelling results show that the average mechanical properties and the scatter of the data both decrease monotonically with increase in specimen size. Strain fields and crack patterns were modelled and fit with experimental observations. The benefits of the model as a valuable tool in studying the influence of microstructural parameters on the fracture of nuclear graphites are discussed.

KW - Nuclear graphite

KW - Quasi-brittle fracture

KW - Micro-cantilever testing

KW - Multi-scale modelling

U2 - 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2015.10.043

DO - 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2015.10.043

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

SN - 0013-7944

VL - 153

SP - 360

EP - 377

JO - Engineering Fracture Mechanics

JF - Engineering Fracture Mechanics

ER -

Experimentally informed multi-scale modelling of mechanical properties of quasi-brittle nuclear graphite

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Keywords

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Projects

UNIGRAF - Understanding and improving graphite for nuclear fission

QUBE:- QUasi-Brittle fracture: a 3D Experimentally-validated approach

Profiles

Dr Lilly Liu

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