核燃料裂变气体肿胀与释放的底层物理机制及影响因素研究
STUDY ON THE UNDERLYING PHYSICAL MECHANISMS AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF FISSION GAS SWELLING AND RELEASE IN NUCLEAR FUEL
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摘要: 裂变气体肿胀及释放行为是核燃料元件设计所关注的关键问题, 通过力学建模和模拟分析来揭示其深层物理机制具有重要的研究意义. 本文基于多晶核燃料中空位扩散场与力学场的多场耦合模型与计算方法, 针对含晶界气泡的核燃料, 开展了介观尺度下空位扩散、位错运动及蠕变变形的有限元模拟, 描述这些介观行为之间的相互作用关系, 系统分析了裂变气体肿胀-释放-蠕变行为的多尺度耦合关联机制, 获得了介观结构参数与不同加载条件下的关键影响因素. 研究发现, 裂变气泡内压导致晶界与气泡周边区域形成化学势差, 驱动空位由晶界面向气泡边缘扩散, 进而引发气泡周围骨架发生环向伸长与径向收缩的扩散蠕变及位错蠕变变形. 这表明, 燃料骨架蠕变是裂变气泡生长连通的关键物理机制, 在裂变气体肿胀与释放行为中起重要作用. 气泡周围骨架的空位扩散及其诱发的扩散蠕变与位错蠕变, 受到气泡内压、宏观外力及孔隙率的显著影响, 进而主导裂变气体肿胀及释放行为的动态演化, 是理论建模中需要重点关注的因素. 本研究为建立机理性裂变气体肿胀及释放模型奠定了理论基础, 可为堆芯核材料与结构的安全设计和性能评估提供支撑.Abstract: Fission gas swelling and release behavior is one of the most critical issues in the design of nuclear fuel components, so it is of great significance to elucidate the underlying physical mechanisms through mechanistic modeling and numerical simulation. Based on a multi-field coupled model and computational method integrating the vacancy diffusion field and the mechanical field in polycrystalline nuclear fuel, this study conducts finite element simulations of mesoscale vacancy diffusion, dislocation motion, and creep deformation in nuclear fuel containing grain-boundary bubbles, with the objective of quantitatively describing the interactions among these coupled physical processes. It systematically analyzes the multi-scale correlation mechanisms and key influencing factors for the coupled fission gas swelling-release-creep behavior over a wide range of microstructural parameters and loading conditions. The numerical simulation results reveal that the internal pressure of fission bubbles creates a chemical potential difference between the grain boundaries and the regions surrounding the bubbles, driving vacancies to diffuse from the grain boundaries to the bubble edges. This consequently induces diffusion creep and dislocation creep deformation in the fuel skeleton around the bubbles, characterized by circumferential elongation and radial contraction. It is indicated that the fuel skeleton creep is a key physical mechanism governing the growth and interconnection of fission bubbles, playing a crucial role in fission gas swelling and release behavior. The vacancy diffusion in the skeleton around the bubbles, along with the induced diffusion creep and dislocation creep, is significantly influenced by the internal bubble pressure, macroscopic external pressure, and porosity, which in turn dominates the dynamic evolution of fission gas swelling and release behavior, representing the critical factors to be addressed in theoretical modeling. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for developing mechanistic models of fission gas swelling and release, thereby providing fundamental support for the safety design and performance evaluation of in-core nuclear materials and components.
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