X-ray measurement of residual stresses and texture development during a rolling sequence of zirconium alloy cladding tubes - influence of plastic anisotropy on mechanical behaviour

Texture and residual stress analysis using X-ray diffraction have been carried out on zirconium alloy cladding tubes after cold pilgering, an industrial mechanical process. The final rolling pass has been completely characterized by X-ray diffraction. An interpretation of the effect of intergranular stresses on the development of analysed stress has been made using a modified elastoplastic self-consistent model in order to account for the effect of the high intrinsic plastic anisotropy of hexagonal close-packed crystals. The contribution and magnitude of the first- and second-order residual stresses were correctly evaluated using information from the model. The main features of the rolling sequence were qualitatively reproduced by the simulations, considering prismatic slip as the main active deformation mode in this alloy under large strain.