Investigating the mechanical behaviour of Fukushima MCCI using synchrotron Xray tomography and digital volume correlation

Abstract A primary target towards the clean-up operation of Fukushima disaster is retrieval Molten Core-Concrete Interaction (MCCI) products, presently residing on basement damaged nuclear reactor Units 1–3. MCCI a fusion materials, composed both fuel cladding and neighbouring structural components. Determining currently unknown, physical mechanical properties essential for successful timely retrieval. In this paper, we aim to experimentally quantify material fabricated resemble MCCI. small-scale representative specimen was mechanically tested using Hertzian indentation stepwise loading. Synchrotron X-ray computed tomography conducted at several loading stages reveal sample microstructure degradation. The acquired tomograms were analysed by digital volume correlation measure full-field displacements strains developed within volume. Young’s modulus Poisson ratio determined via combined methodology.