Review of plastic deformation mechanisms and crystal plasticity modelling of uranium

Abstract

Uranium (U) and its alloys are not only critical energy materials but also serve as important structural materials in the nuclear industry due to their high density and favorable ductility. This work conducts a review on reported plastic deformation mechanisms of uranium for studies carried out dating back to the 1950s. Uranium exhibits three polymorphic phases from low temperature to its melting point at 1132 °C: the base-centered orthorhombic phase (α), the tetragonal phase (β), and the body-centered cubic (BCC) phase (γ). This review focuses on deformation mechanisms of α-U since α-U has been extensively studied while researches on deformation mechanisms of β-U and γ-U are limited. The introduced deformation mechanisms include dislocation slip, deformation twinning, and shear localization. Parameters that affect the deformation mechanisms such as strain rate, temperature, and microstructure are discussed separately. As crystal plasticity modelling is an effective method to quantify the contributions of various deformation mechanisms, advancements in crystal plasticity modelling of uranium are also reviewed. Finally, this review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the plastic deformation mechanisms of uranium and proposes future research pathways.