New module for simulating experiments without irradiation included in the DIONISIO 3.0 code

Abstract

We present a new module included in the DIONISIO 3.0 code, extending its capabilities to analyze experiments without irradiation in two-dimensional domains with axial symmetry and three-dimensional domains. The code can analyze any material and geometry subject to histories of variable temperature, pressure, composition of the atmosphere, etc. Based on the finite element method, the code can build simple geometries or read meshes adapting them to the specific case to be simulated. We compare the calculations of the module in different scenarios to analyze the behavior of rods and UO2 pellets. In the former, we used several ballooning experiments under constant pressure or temperature over diverse atmospheres. A description of the evolution of a crack in the cladding is included. In the latter, we use a thermal densification model included in the code to analyze the porosity behavior during re-sintering processes.