The fracture strength of TRISO-coated particles determined by compression testing between soft aluminium anvils

Abstract

Compression testing of tri-isotropic (TRISO) carbon/silicon carbide-coated fuel particles between anvil materials with a wide range of hardnesses was investigated. During compression testing, the particle produces a hardness impression before it fractures. For subsequent measurements, the same position can therefore not be used. A special testing machine was designed to use the same set of anvils for testing more than one specimen. By each time positioning a particle at a slightly different position between the anvils, a large number of measurements could be made. The load required for fracture is almost independent of anvil hardness for very hard or very soft anvils. Finite element stress analysis showed that when the anvil hardness is very high, fracture occurs because of high local contact bending stresses at the point of contact. In the case of very soft anvils, a tensile stress develops along a latitudinal direction along the perimeter of the particle over a large volume in between the contact zones with the anvils. The particle then fractures by the development of cracks at right angles to the direction of the tensile stress. From the fracture load, the ability of the particle to withstand internal pressure can be assessed. The advantages of using compression testing of full particles between soft anvils without prior preparation to complement previous test methods are highlighted.