Investigation of <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" altimg="si2.svg"><mml:mi>?</mml:mi></mml:math> zirconium hydride morphology in a single crystal using quantitative phase field simulations supported by experiments

In light water nuclear reactors, waterside corrosion of the cladding material leads to production hydrogen, a fraction which is picked up by zirconium and precipitates into brittle hydride particles. These nanoscale particles aggregate mesoscale clusters. The principal stacking direction hydrides precipitated in tube changes from circumferential absence applied stress radial under stress. A quantitative phase field model has been developed predict morphology observed experimentally identify mechanisms responsible for stacking. focuses on precipitation single grain with detailed description anisotropic elastic contribution. predictions concerning shape, orientation, behavior are analyzed compared experimental observations. accurately accounts elongated shape along basal plane hexagonal matrix. When investigating role morphology, challenges some previously proposed explain reorientation. Although reorientation hypothesized be caused change current study shows that these unlikely occur.