Thermal Effect and Stress Simulation in Zirconium after Pulsed Plasma Impact

Abstract

In the work the results of simulation of temperature distribution in zirconium after pulsed plasma treatment are presented. The plasma treatment is widely used for materials modification that takes place in melting mode. To choose the plasma parameters for melting of the top layer the simulation was provided. In the proposed model the phase transformation in zirconium connected to transformation from solid phase to liquid was taken into account as a special function of heat capacity. The obtained results showed the absorbed energy density should be higher than 12 J/cm2 for starting melt of the surface. After plasma pulse, the top layer begins to solidify with high cooling rate and speed of crystallization front motion. Besides, the high level of temperature gradient provides mechanical stress inside which reach 1.0 GPa