Expansion deformation mechanism and cracking behaviours of chromium-coated zirconium alloy cladding at room temperature

The deformation of the cladding tube triggered by the expansion of the internal plug is used to investigate the hoop deformation behaviour of the Cr-coated zirconium alloy cladding tube at room temperature. A thin-walled pressurized cylinder model is used to transform the axial load-displacement curve working on the expansion plug into the hoop stress-strain curve working on the cladding tube, and it is found that the Cr coating can be able to restrain the cladding tube from hoop deformation. Observation of the Cr-coated cladding tube after different amounts of hoop deformation revealed that the strain corresponding to the generation of the first crack was a ranged from 0.48 % to 0.59 %, the density of cracks started to grow very fast and then entered a saturation stage. The fracture strength of the Cr coating and maximum interfacial shear strength when the Cr coating crack density reaches saturation were calculated by the shear-lag model. Twins and a large number of dislocations were generated in the Zr matrix and a small number of dislocations in the Cr coating after the hoop deformation. The behaviour of crack initiation and propagation occurring in Cr coating is revealed. •The mode of initiation and propagation of cracks in the coating is elucidated.•The strain corresponding to the first crack in Cr coating is obtained.•The fracture and maximum shear strength of the Cr coating were calculated.