Cluster Dynamics modelling of irradiation growth of zirconium single crystals

This paper aims at modelling irradiation growth of zirconium single crystals as a function of neutron fluence. The Cluster Dynamics approach is used, which makes it possible to describe the variation of irradiation microstructure (dislocation loops) with neutron fluence. From the irradiation microstructure, the strain can be calculated along the axes of the lattice structure. The model is applied to the growth of annealed zirconium single crystals at 553 K measured by Carpenter and Rogerson in 1981 and 1987. The model is found to fit the experimentally measured growth of Zr single crystals very nicely, even at large neutron fluence where the ‘breakaway growth’ occurs. This was made possible by considering in the model the growth of vacancy loops in the basal planes. This growth of vacancy loops in the basal planes could be modelled by taking into account that diffusion of self-interstitial atoms (SIA) is anisotropic and that there exist in the basal planes some nucleation sites for vacancy loops (iron clusters), the density of which is considered constant over time.