CX-270019: Radiation-Induced Swelling and Microcracking in SiC Cladding for LWRs - University of Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin proposes to provide a fundamental basis for continuum models of swelling by measuring the distribution of defect clusters of all sizes and modeling their contribution to swelling and to combine the model of swelling with simulations of microstructural evolution to predict the effect of swelling on microcracking in SiC.  The objectives will be accomplished through an integrated research effort that brings together multiscale materials simulations and experiments.  Experiments will be carried out on 4H (hexagonal, single crystal) and 3C (cubic, polycrystalline) SiC samples irradiated with Si and C ions.