Structural Analysis Lab
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department, Emirate Nuclear Technology Center
Principal advisor: Dr. Akram Alfantazi (akram.alfantazi@ku.ac.ae)
The structural Analysis Lab provides test equipment for evaluating the high-temperature oxidation behavior of metallic materials. In nuclear power plants (NPPs), the fuel cladding materials, reactor internals, and core supporting structures could be exposed to high-temperature steam or air during severe accidents. To evaluate the accident progress or plant response during severe accidental conditions, it is very important to have accurate knowledge and information about the oxidation behavior and kinetics of the fuel cladding and reactor internal structures. For this purpose, this laboratory is equipped with a thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA) and a custom-designed high-temperature oxidation test rig. The Lab also includes Concrete sample preparation, mixing, molding, and curing.
LINSEIS PT-1600 Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) – can measure the weight change of samples as a function of temperature or time under controlled environments.
Working temperature: 1600°C max.
Temperature ramping rate: 40°C/min max.
Controllable gas flow: 150 sccm/min max.
Programable flow rate during experiments: Argon, Nitrogen, Oxygen
Controllable steam flow: 50 mL/min in steam (150°C)
Sample size 5 mL / 25 g max.
High precision beam balance – Resolution: 0.1 μg, Measuring range: ± 2500 mg
High-Temperature Oxidation Test Rig
The custom-designed oxidation test rig has an alumina test tube with a large volume of 60 mm Φ inner diameter and 1 m length. Three tube-shaped fuel cladding samples can be loaded tested under controlled atmosphere at same time.
Working temperature: 1400°C max.
Temperature ramping rate: 8°C/min max.
Controllable gas flow: 10 L/min max., Argon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen
Controllable steam flow: 100 mg/s
Sample holder -45 mm Φ, processed Alumina, 3 × cladding tube samples
