Development of nuclear fuel assembly finite element model for mechanical integrity evaluation

Yoo, Youngik; Kim, Joongjin; Park, Joonkyoo; Kim, Hyeongkoo

doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2023.112523

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…One of the mechanical tests conducted to verify a spacer grid's design involves subjecting the spacer grid to a displacement load. Yoo et al [12] constructed a simple beam model to represent a 14 × 14 mid-spacer grid of a nuclear fuel assembly and integrated spring and dimple stiffness on the FEA modeling. The boundary conditions for the static compression analysis with a square load are shown in Figure 1.…”

Section: Review Of Apr1400 Fa Spacer Grid Mechanical Strength Assessm...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Investigation of Structural Strength of Nuclear Fuel Spacer Grid

Adli,

Namgung

2024

Energies

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This paper compares and discusses the methods for evaluation of the structural integrity of the mid spacer grid of nuclear fuel assembly via a finite element analysis of 3D shell elements. The structural stiffness of the spacer grid is determined by applying either force or deformation as loads onto the spacer grid for both the square load and shear load directions. This study is an extension of a single-cell strength analysis of a spacer. External events such as seismic activities that might happen in a nuclear reactor are able to transfer loads onto nuclear components in random directions, which can be broken down into square and shear loadings. The structural strength indicated by the force reaction against the input displacement load was proven to be smaller such that the same displacement square load is around 260 times greater than the shear load. Due to the weakness in shear stiffness, the maintenance of a spacer grid structure is more vulnerable against out-of-plane loads. This indicates that the shear load needs to be considered in studies of fuel assembly integrity assessment for newly developing fuel design, as well as existing fuel assembly designs.

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Section: Review Of Apr1400 Fa Spacer Grid Mechanical Strength Assessm...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results were integrated into the modeling of the FEA. Yoo et al [12] developed an FA finite element model to evaluate the mechanical integrity of the whole FA. They developed a three-dimensional finite element model of a 17 × 17 FA, using beam and spring elements to reduce model size.…”

Section: Review Of Apr1400 Fa Spacer Grid Mechanical Strength Assessm...mentioning

confidence: 99%