Publications [#268245] of Henry Petroski

Papers Published

1. Petroski, HJ, Cracked hexagonal ducts [LMFBR safety], Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc. (Usa), vol. 26 (1977), pp. 215, New York, NY, USA
   (last updated on 2023/06/01)

   Abstract:
   Two loading cases have been considered for a hexcan of 3-mm wall, 4.5-mm inside corner radius, and 116-mm flat-to-flat outside dimension. These cases are: (a) uniform internal pressure, and (b) a pair of concentrated forces applied to opposite mudflats. These cases are relevant to LMFBR safety problems associated with overpressurization and with the failure of fuel pins. In case (a) the maximum tensile stress at the hexcan corners is about twice as large as that at the mudflats, but in case (b) the maximum stresses under the loads are 15% greater than those at remote corners. The stress intensity factors associated with very shallow axial cracks of equal depth at these locations have approximately the same relative values as the maximum stresses. For larger cracks of unequal sizes, an inside corner crack shown to be definitely worse than an outside mudflat crack. The worst location for a crack for the case of a hexcan loaded locally and mudflats appears to be directly under a load, but the same size crack at remote corners may be only slightly less severe

   Keywords:
   brittle fracture;crack-edge stress field analysis;fission reactor fuel;fission reactor materials;fission reactor safety;tensile strength;