A finite element study on the irradiation-induced mechanical behaviors of aluminum-matrix radiation-shielding composites

•A finite element model describing the deformation of the pristine and post-irradiation Al matrix radiation shielding composites is developed.•Simulations successfully reproduce the experimental findings for both the Al matrix and the composites.•The composites’ stress-strain and deformation characteristics exhibit three irradiation damage stages.•An artificial neural network is trained and is able to predict the composites’ post-irradiation mechanical behaviors efficiently. Aluminum-matrix radiation-shielding composites play a crucial role in advanced nuclear energy systems and fuel containers owing to their shielding design flexibility and desired structural compatibility. After being irradiated by neutrons, the shielding composites undergo irradiation damage and exhibit irradiation-induced mechanical effects such as irradiation hardening and embrittlement, which directly threaten the industrial application of the material. In this study, a finite element method was used to investigate the irradiation-induced mechanical behavior of radiation-shielding B4CP-WP/Al composites. Using published data on the post-irradiation mechanical property evolutions of the matrix and shielding particles, and incorporating mechanisms of irradiation hardening and embrittlement, a finite element model was developed to describe the deformation of pristine and post-irradiation composites. Simulations of the post-irradiation mechanical properties of the aluminum-matrix radiation-shielding composites were conducted. The simulation results successfully reproduced the experimental findings for both the Al matrix and composites after irradiation. Furthermore, the stress-strain responses and deformation behaviors of the composites at different stages of irradiation damage are discussed. Finally, based on the simulation results, an artificial neural network was trained to efficiently predict the irradiation-induced mechanical behavior of the composites.