UPuZrThermalExpansionEigenstrain

Computes an eigenstrain due to thermal expansion for UPuZr using a function that describes the mean thermal expansion as a function of temperature.

Description

The UPuZrThermalExpansionEigenstrain material model computes an eigenstrain tensor that accounts for thermal expansion in UPuZr. This model makes use of similar formulations as ComputeDilatationThermalExpansionFunctionEigenstrain to compute the thermal strain from a empirical dilatation formulation. Two formulations are available in UPuZrThermalExpansionEigenstrain, as described below.

Geelhood correlation

The correlation from GeelHood and Porter (2018) is available for use to compute the linear thermal expansion as a function of temperature: where is temperature in K.

LANL correlation

The LANL correlation is available for use to compute the linear thermal expansion as a function of temperature, as well as plutonium and zirconium concentrations. The formulation has been calibrated against the available data for U, U-Zr, and U-Pu-Zr alloys, and is appropriate for use for alloys less than 20 weight percent plutonium and zirconium. For linear thermal expansion beyond these concentrations, the correlation should be used with care.

The LANL correlation essentially provides fits for the low and high temperature phases ( and in U-Zr, and and in U-Pu-Zr): (1) (2) where is temperature in [K], is the atom fraction of plutonium, and is the relative fraction of zirconium, and is the atom fraction of plutonium of the fuel. The mid-temperature phase does not have enough data to formulate an appropriate correlation, thus the MathUtils::smootherStep function is utilized from MathUtils.h to smoothly transition between the two regions.

The total linear thermal expansion for U-Zr and U-Pu-Zr fuel can be formulated as, where is the stress free temperature (taken as K for all comparisons to thermal expansion data). Using the correlations in Eq. (1) and Eq. (2), (3)

The temperature transitions in Eq. (1) and Eq. (2) can be provided as material properties via the alpha_transition_start and alpha_transition_end input parameters.

commentnote

An automatic differentiation version of this class is available as ADUPuZrThermalExpansionEigenstrain.

Example Input Syntax

[Materials<<<{"href": "../../../syntax/Materials/index.html"}>>>]
  [thexp]
    type = ADUPuZrThermalExpansionEigenstrain<<<{"description": "Computes an eigenstrain due to thermal expansion for UPuZr using a function that describes the mean thermal expansion as a function of temperature.", "href": "UPuZrThermalExpansionEigenstrain.html"}>>>
    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."}>>> = thexp
    stress_free_temperature<<<{"description": "Reference temperature at which there is no thermal expansion for thermal eigenstrain calculation"}>>> = 298
    temperature<<<{"description": "Coupled temperature"}>>> = temp
    thermal_expansion_model<<<{"description": "Thermal exapansion model. Choices are: LANL GEELHOOD"}>>> = lanl
    alpha_transition_start<<<{"description": "Material property that provides the temperature at which the alpha phase starts to transition out."}>>> = alpha_start
    alpha_transition_end<<<{"description": "Material property that provides the temperature at which the alpha phase finishes transitioning out."}>>> = alpha_end
    X_Zr<<<{"description": "Coupled zirconium atom fraction."}>>> = X_Zr
    X_Pu<<<{"description": "Coupled plutonium atom fraction."}>>> = X_Pu
  []
[]
(test/tests/solid_mechanics/ad_upuzr_thermal_expansion/lanl_data.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

  • X_PuCoupled plutonium atom fraction.

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

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Coupled plutonium atom fraction.

  • X_ZrCoupled zirconium atom fraction.

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

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Coupled zirconium atom fraction.

  • alpha_transition_end973Material property that provides the temperature at which the alpha phase finishes transitioning out.

    Default:973

    C++ Type:MaterialPropertyName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Material property that provides the temperature at which the alpha phase finishes transitioning out.

  • alpha_transition_start923Material property that provides the temperature at which the alpha phase starts to transition out.

    Default:923

    C++ Type:MaterialPropertyName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Material property that provides the temperature at which the alpha phase starts to transition out.

  • 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_modelGEELHOODThermal exapansion model. Choices are: LANL GEELHOOD

    Default:GEELHOOD

    C++ Type:MooseEnum

    Options:LANL, GEELHOOD

    Controllable:No

    Description:Thermal exapansion model. Choices are: LANL GEELHOOD

  • use_old_temperatureFalseFlag to optionally use the temperature value from the previous timestep.

    Default:False

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:Flag to optionally use the temperature value from the previous timestep.

  • verboseFalsetodo

    Default:False

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:todo

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

  • thermal_expansion_scalar1Scale factor to be applied to the thermal expansion coefficient. Used for calibration and sensitivity studies

    Default:1

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Scale factor to be applied to the thermal expansion coefficient. Used for calibration and sensitivity studies

Advanced: Scaling Factors Parameters

Input Files

References

  1. K. J. GeelHood and I. E. Porter. Modeling and assessment of EBR-II fuel with the US NRC's fast fuel performance code. In Proceedings of Top Fuel, 2018. Prague, Czech Republic, October 2018.[BibTeX]