UPuZrLowTemperatureSwelling

Computes swelling increment due to low-temperature swelling in UPuZr.

Description

UPuZrLowTemperatureSwelling computes a swelling increment to account for swelling arising from the presence of -uranium in U-Pu-Zr systems. It is designed to be used in conjunction with a gaseous swelling model such as in UPuZrGaseousSwelling as well as with a joiner class, UPuZrPorosityEigenstrain, that computes the swelling, the porosity, and volumetric eigenstrain from the swelling increments. The joiner class is needed to set an overall porosity threshold incorporating multiple swelling mechanisms, above which fission gas venting occurs. The low temperature swelling model is a new model based on swelling observations of -uranium and fuel alloys.

The new low-temperature swelling model defines a temperature-dependent swelling rate, , with respect to the local burnup. The swelling rate is defined as

where is the low-temperature swelling. In this model, the equation for is given by fitting a fifth-order polynomial to the data in Leggett et al. (1963) within upper and lower bounding temperatures, denoted as and , respectively. Because the fit is intended to capture a single peak within the bounding temperatures, the fit is linearly extrapolated outside the bounding temperatures, that is,

for ,

for , and

for , where the coefficients are provided in the table. If the calculated (i.e., unphysical), then is used. In this model, K and K.

CoefficientValue
a
b
c
d
e
f

The current local swelling in the fuel, , is calculated in UPuZrPorosityEigenstrain using the low-temperature swelling increment calculated by UPuZrLowTemperatureSwelling. The low-temperature swelling increment, is calculated as where is the burnup increment from the previous time step to the current time step. With this incremental formulation, the swelling is path-dependent and not a state function of temperature, e.g., if the fuel cools and the swelling rate decreases after swelling formation, the total swelling will not be reduced by recalculating with the lower swelling rate.

Example Input Syntax

[Materials<<<{"href": "../../syntax/Materials/index.html"}>>>]
  [lowT_swelling]
    type = UPuZrLowTemperatureSwelling<<<{"description": "Computes swelling increment due to low-temperature swelling in UPuZr.", "href": "UPuZrLowTemperatureSwelling.html"}>>>
    temperature<<<{"description": "Coupled temperature variable"}>>> = temperature
    outputs<<<{"description": "Vector of output names where you would like to restrict the output of variables(s) associated with this object"}>>> = all
  []
[]
(test/tests/solid_mechanics/upuzr_eigenstrains/upuzr_porosity_eigenstrain/test.i)

UPuZrLowTemperatureSwelling must be used in conjunction with the gaseous swelling class:

[Materials<<<{"href": "../../syntax/Materials/index.html"}>>>]
  [gas_swelling]
    type = UPuZrGaseousSwelling<<<{"description": "Computes a swelling increment due to gas swelling in UPuZr.", "href": "UPuZrGaseousSwelling.html"}>>>
    outputs<<<{"description": "Vector of output names where you would like to restrict the output of variables(s) associated with this object"}>>> = all
    temperature<<<{"description": "Coupled temperature variable"}>>> = temperature
    bubble_number_density<<<{"description": "Material property name for the number density of intragranular bubbles, [bubbles/m^3]"}>>> = 1e20
  []
[]
(test/tests/solid_mechanics/upuzr_eigenstrains/upuzr_porosity_eigenstrain/test.i)

and in conjunction with the joiner class to calculate swelling, porosity, and eigenstrain:

[Materials<<<{"href": "../../syntax/Materials/index.html"}>>>]
  [total_porosity]
    type = UPuZrPorosityEigenstrain<<<{"description": "Computes the swelling, porosity and eigenstrain from gasous and low-temperature mechanisms in UPuZr.", "href": "solid_mechanics/UPuZrPorosityEigenstrain.html"}>>>
    initial_porosity<<<{"description": "Initial or fabrication porosity"}>>> = 0.1
    outputs<<<{"description": "Vector of output names where you would like to restrict the output of variables(s) associated with this object"}>>> = all
    output_properties<<<{"description": "List of material properties, from this material, to output (outputs must also be defined to an output type)"}>>> = 'total_swelling porosity gas_swelling lowT_swelling'
    eigenstrain_name<<<{"description": "Material property name for the eigenstrain tensor computed by this model. IMPORTANT: The name of this property must also be provided to the strain calculator."}>>> = porosity_eigenstrain
  []
[]
(test/tests/solid_mechanics/upuzr_eigenstrains/upuzr_porosity_eigenstrain/test.i)

and with the solid mechanics quasi-static action to apply the calculated eigenstrain:

[Physics<<<{"href": "../../syntax/Physics/index.html"}>>>]
  [SolidMechanics<<<{"href": "../../syntax/Physics/SolidMechanics/index.html"}>>>]
    [QuasiStatic<<<{"href": "../../syntax/Physics/SolidMechanics/QuasiStatic/index.html"}>>>]
      [all]
        strain<<<{"description": "Strain formulation"}>>> = FINITE
        add_variables<<<{"description": "Add the displacement variables"}>>> = true
        eigenstrain_names<<<{"description": "List of eigenstrains to be applied in this strain calculation"}>>> = 'porosity_eigenstrain'
        generate_output<<<{"description": "Add scalar quantity output for stress and/or strain"}>>> = 'strain_xx strain_yy'
      []
    []
  []
[]
(test/tests/solid_mechanics/upuzr_eigenstrains/upuzr_porosity_eigenstrain/test.i)

Input Parameters

  • eigenstrain_nameMaterial property name for the eigenstrain tensor computed by this model. IMPORTANT: The name of this property must also be provided to the strain calculator.

    C++ Type:std::string

    Controllable:No

    Description:Material property name for the eigenstrain tensor computed by this model. IMPORTANT: The name of this property must also be provided to the strain calculator.

Required Parameters

  • base_nameOptional parameter that allows the user to define multiple mechanics material systems on the same block, i.e. for multiple phases

    C++ Type:std::string

    Controllable:No

    Description:Optional parameter that allows the user to define multiple mechanics material systems on the same block, i.e. for multiple phases

  • blockThe list of blocks (ids or names) that this object will be applied

    C++ Type:std::vector<SubdomainName>

    Controllable:No

    Description:The list of blocks (ids or names) that this object will be applied

  • boundaryThe list of boundaries (ids or names) from the mesh where this object applies

    C++ Type:std::vector<BoundaryName>

    Controllable:No

    Description:The list of boundaries (ids or names) from the mesh where this object applies

  • computeTrueWhen false, MOOSE will not call compute methods on this material. The user must call computeProperties() after retrieving the MaterialBase via MaterialBasePropertyInterface::getMaterialBase(). Non-computed MaterialBases are not sorted for dependencies.

    Default:True

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:When false, MOOSE will not call compute methods on this material. The user must call computeProperties() after retrieving the MaterialBase via MaterialBasePropertyInterface::getMaterialBase(). Non-computed MaterialBases are not sorted for dependencies.

  • constant_onNONEWhen ELEMENT, MOOSE will only call computeQpProperties() for the 0th quadrature point, and then copy that value to the other qps.When SUBDOMAIN, MOOSE will only call computeQpProperties() for the 0th quadrature point, and then copy that value to the other qps. Evaluations on element qps will be skipped

    Default:NONE

    C++ Type:MooseEnum

    Options:NONE, ELEMENT, SUBDOMAIN

    Controllable:No

    Description:When ELEMENT, MOOSE will only call computeQpProperties() for the 0th quadrature point, and then copy that value to the other qps.When SUBDOMAIN, MOOSE will only call computeQpProperties() for the 0th quadrature point, and then copy that value to the other qps. Evaluations on element qps will be skipped

  • declare_suffixAn optional suffix parameter that can be appended to any declared properties. The suffix will be prepended with a '_' character.

    C++ Type:MaterialPropertyName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:An optional suffix parameter that can be appended to any declared properties. The suffix will be prepended with a '_' character.

  • initial_porosity0Initial or fabrication porosity

    Default:0

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Initial or fabrication porosity

  • interconnection_terminating_porosity0.25Porosity at which fission gas release finishes

    Default:0.25

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Porosity at which fission gas release finishes

Optional Parameters

  • control_tagsAdds user-defined labels for accessing object parameters via control logic.

    C++ Type:std::vector<std::string>

    Controllable:No

    Description:Adds user-defined labels for accessing object parameters via control logic.

  • enableTrueSet the enabled status of the MooseObject.

    Default:True

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:Yes

    Description:Set the enabled status of the MooseObject.

  • implicitTrueDetermines whether this object is calculated using an implicit or explicit form

    Default:True

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:Determines whether this object is calculated using an implicit or explicit form

  • seed0The seed for the master random number generator

    Default:0

    C++ Type:unsigned int

    Controllable:No

    Description:The seed for the master random number generator

  • use_displaced_meshFalseWhether or not this object should use the displaced mesh for computation. Note that in the case this is true but no displacements are provided in the Mesh block the undisplaced mesh will still be used.

    Default:False

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:Whether or not this object should use the displaced mesh for computation. Note that in the case this is true but no displacements are provided in the Mesh block the undisplaced mesh will still be used.

Advanced Parameters

  • output_propertiesList of material properties, from this material, to output (outputs must also be defined to an output type)

    C++ Type:std::vector<std::string>

    Controllable:No

    Description:List of material properties, from this material, to output (outputs must also be defined to an output type)

  • outputsnone Vector of output names where you would like to restrict the output of variables(s) associated with this object

    Default:none

    C++ Type:std::vector<OutputName>

    Controllable:No

    Description:Vector of output names where you would like to restrict the output of variables(s) associated with this object

Outputs Parameters

  • prop_getter_suffixAn optional suffix parameter that can be appended to any attempt to retrieve/get material properties. The suffix will be prepended with a '_' character.

    C++ Type:MaterialPropertyName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:An optional suffix parameter that can be appended to any attempt to retrieve/get material properties. The suffix will be prepended with a '_' character.

  • use_interpolated_stateFalseFor the old and older state use projected material properties interpolated at the quadrature points. To set up projection use the ProjectedStatefulMaterialStorageAction.

    Default:False

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:For the old and older state use projected material properties interpolated at the quadrature points. To set up projection use the ProjectedStatefulMaterialStorageAction.

Material Property Retrieval Parameters

Input Files

References

  1. RD Leggett, TK Bierlein, and B Mastel. Irradiation behavior of high purity uranium. Technical Report HW-79559, Hanford Laboratories, 1963.[BibTeX]