Crack Extensions in Compact Tension Specimens of Hydrided Irradiated Zr-2.5Nb Materials Using Cohesive Zone Model

The crack extension in a compact tension specimen of hydrided irradiated Zr-2.5Nb material is investigated by a two-dimensional plane stress finite element analysis. The stress-strain relation of the Zr-2.5Nb material for the finite element analysis is obtained from fitting the experimental tensile stress-strain curve of the irradiated Zr-2.5Nb material without hydrides by a three-dimensional finite element analysis. The calibration of the cohesive zone model with a trapezoidal traction-separation law is based on fitting the load-displacement-crack extension experimental data of a compact tension specimen of hydrided irradiated Zr-2.5Nb material. The general trends of the load-displacement, crack extension-displacement, and load-crack extension curves obtained from the finite element analysis based on the calibrated cohesive zone model are in agreement with the experimental data.