Mechanical response of oxidized Zircaloy-4 cladding material submitted to a ring compression test

The ring compression test method has been evaluated as a tool to assess Zircaloy-4 cladding mechanical properties and to analyze oxide layer damage evolution with applied strain. For sufficient axial length, the test is shown to develop plane strain conditions at the most deformed location. The test analysis requires finite element calculations. The aim of the paper is to highlight the potentialities of the ring compression test method.