Dating the Fractures in Darlington Endplates from Oxide Thickness Measurements

Abstract

Corrosion film thicknesses on fuel bundle endplates from DNGS Unit #2 were measured using infrared interferometry. Measurements were done on both normal and fracture faces. Regions on fracture faces were smooth enough to provide well-defined spectra. The kinetic equation for oxide growth was established from average thicknesses measured on out-of-flux upstream and downstream endplates. Oxide growth curves calculated using the kinetic equation facilitated estimation of fracture times.