U3Si2ThermalExpansionEigenstrain

Computes eigenstrain due to thermal expansion using a function that describes the instantaneous thermal expansion as a function of temperature for U3Si2 fuel.

Description

The U3Si2ThermalExpansionEigenstrain material class calculates the strain due to thermal expansion for USi fuel. The correlation from the USi handbook (White, 2017) describes the instantaneous linear thermal expansion coefficient (K) as a function of temperature:

For 273 K T 1473 K:

Alternatively, a linear thermal expansion coefficient is available based on lattice parameters from neutron diffraction measurements (see Obbard et al. (2018)):

An incremental approach using the average coefficient of thermal expansion over the time step given the incremental temperature change is used for computing the thermal strain:

where refers to the current time step and refers to the previous time step.

Example Input Syntax

[Materials<<<{"href": "../../../syntax/Materials/index.html"}>>>]
  [thermal_eigenstrain]
    type = U3Si2ThermalExpansionEigenstrain<<<{"description": "Computes eigenstrain due to thermal expansion using a function that describes the instantaneous thermal expansion as a function of temperature for U3Si2 fuel.", "href": "U3Si2ThermalExpansionEigenstrain.html"}>>>
    block<<<{"description": "The list of blocks (ids or names) that this object will be applied"}>>> = 0
    temperature<<<{"description": "Coupled temperature"}>>> = temp
    stress_free_temperature<<<{"description": "Reference temperature at which there is no thermal expansion for thermal eigenstrain calculation"}>>> = 300.0
    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."}>>> = thermal_eigenstrain
  []
[]
(test/tests/solid_mechanics/u3si2_eigenstrains/thermal_expansion/thermal_expansion.i)

The eigenstrain name must also be passed to the strain calculator, and an example parameter setting is shown below:

[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
        eigenstrain_names<<<{"description": "List of eigenstrains to be applied in this strain calculation"}>>> = thermal_eigenstrain
      []
    []
  []
[]
(test/tests/solid_mechanics/u3si2_eigenstrains/thermal_expansion/thermal_expansion.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.

  • stress_free_temperatureReference temperature at which there is no thermal expansion for thermal eigenstrain calculation

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

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Reference temperature at which there is no thermal expansion for thermal eigenstrain calculation

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.

  • mean_thermal_expansion_coefficient_nameName of the mean coefficient of thermal expansion.

    C++ Type:MaterialPropertyName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Name of the mean coefficient of thermal expansion.

  • temperatureCoupled temperature

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

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Coupled temperature

  • thermal_expansion_modelWHITESpecify thermal expansion model: WHITE or OBBARD

    Default:WHITE

    C++ Type:MooseEnum

    Options:WHITE, OBBARD

    Controllable:No

    Description:Specify thermal expansion model: WHITE or OBBARD

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. E.G. Obbard, K.D. Johnson, D.A. Lopez, D.J. Gregg, K. D. Liss, G. Griffiths, N. Scales, and S.C. Middleburgh. Anisotropy in the thermal expansion of uranium silicide measured by neutron diffraction. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 508:516–520, 2018.[BibTeX]
  2. J. T. White. Issue draft U$_3$Si$_2$ fuel property handbook. Technical Report LA-UR-17-20609, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2017.[BibTeX]