This work aims to carry out a hybrid experimental and numerical investigation on the fracture properties of the zirconium cladding tube coated with Cr2AlC, which belongs to the group of MAX phase materials. A macroscopic failure criterion is finally developed based on the experimental and numerical simulation results, thus contributing to the design of the accident-tolerant fuel system (ATFs) in nuclear power plants. A series of in-situ bending tests involving various sample geometries covering a wide range of stress states are carried out under a quasi-static condition. Oxidized samples and samples aged in hot water under high pressure are also involved to consider the aging and oxidation effect on material failure. The modified Bai-Wierzbicki (MBW) damage model and the analytical Yoon2014 model are coupled in the simulation so the damage and strength differential effect can be considered in modeling material failure. By transferring boundary conditions between the micro- and macroscopic model as a weak macro-micro coupling, homogenization is achieved so that a micromechanical sub-model can also be developed and the micromechanical simulation and macroscopic simulation can be cross-scale bridged.
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