Evaluation of axial and tangential ultimate tensile strength of zirconium cladding tubes

Different methods of axial and tangential testing and various sample geometries were investigated, and new test geometries were designed to determine the ultimate tensile strength of zirconium cladding tubes. The finite element method was used to model the tensile tests, and the results of the simulations were evaluated. Axial and tangential tensile tests were performed on as-received and machined fuel cladding tube samples of both E110 and E110G Russian zirconium alloys at room temperature to compare their ultimate tensile strengths and the different sample preparation methods.