M.A.Sc. Candidate
Dep. of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, K7L 3N6, Ontario, Canada Tel: (613) 533 6000 Ext: 77594 Email: swainm[at]me[dot]queensu[dot]ca
Biography B.Sc.Eng: Engineering Physics, Materials Option – Queen’s University |
Megan in Central Park, Manhattan, NY 2010
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Current Research Fields
- Fatigue behaviour of Zircaloy-2 under different environmental conditions
- Lattice strain development of Zircaloy-2 during cyclic loading
Current Research
Megan is currently investigating the fatigue behaviour of Zircaloy-2. She is focusing on both the lattice strain development during cyclic loading as well as the effects of different environmental conditions on the fatigue behaviour of this material.
Zircaloy-2 is the alloy used to make calandria tubes, a critical core component for CANDU nuclear reactor devices. The calandria tubes surround the hot pressure tubes separating them from the relatively cold heavy water moderator. During routine reactor operation the pressurized heavy water coolant flow through the pressure tubes of the reactor can lead to vibrations. These vibrations can be transferred to other core components including the calandria tubes leading to the fatigue of these components. The underlying purpose of this research is to better predict the in-reactor behaviour of the calandria tube material.
The first aim of this research is to use neutron diffraction in order to look at the lattice strain development of differently oriented grains. This will allow one to discover which deformation mechanisms are being activated under different cyclic loading conditions in textured Zircaloy-2. Twinning of this material will also occur leading to grain re-orientation and thus a change in both the texture and further lattice strain development of the sample.
In addition fatigue experiments are being conducted to look at the effects of different external conditions on the macroscopic properties of Ziracloy-2. This experiment involves testing micro-CT samples in different environments including air, water and carbon dioxide at 80°C to simulate the in-reactor calandria tube conditions.