Development of a Dynamic Loading Apparatus for Investigating Strategies that Mitigate Stress Corrosion Cracking in Nuclear Fuel Elements

Abstract

Iodine-induced stress corrosion cracking (I-SCC) is a dynamic process that can initiate the structural failure of fuel elements in a nuclear reactor. Consequently, as an affordable way to investigate I-SCC in the laboratory, a dynamic loading apparatus was designed to realistically reproduce the chemical and mechanical conditions during a fuel power-ramp operation in a nuclear reactor. This apparatus will significantly improve upon established C-ring SCC tests and will be a valuable tool for developing novel SCC mitigation strategies. This paper outlines the design and development of the dynamic loading SCC testing apparatus at the Royal Military College of Canada.