Assessment of the texture of thin-wall zirconium tubes

Theoretical assessment of the texture of thin-wall zirconium tubes, which are the main structural material for fuel assemblies in light-water reactors is discussed. Several effects can be identified in the change of the geometric parameters of the structural components, since the radiation growth and radiation-thermal creep depend strongly on the texture of the zirconium tubes. The texture parameter is an integral characteristic of the texturing of an object as it determines the radiation growth. The difference between the texture parameters will give information about the difference between deformations for the same irradiation parameters for two objects with the same geometry. A sample must have a smooth face with area such that during rotation the region illuminated by the x-ray beam does not extend beyond the limits of this face to obtain the true characteristics of texture. This method is recommended for mass analysis of irradiated samples to find textural deviations in samples of the same type.