A Study on the Static Buckling Load Estimation of the Spacer Grid in the Pressurized Water Reactor Fuel Assembly

Abstract:

This study contains several estimation methods of the static buckling load for the spacer grid of nuclear fuel assembly in pressurized water reactor. Three different estimation methods were proposed for the calculation of the static buckling loads of spacer grid. The linear and non-linear static buckling analyses were performed to estimate the static buckling load of the spacer grids using ANSYS program. The analyses results were compared with the static buckling test results. Based on the analysis and test results, the applicability of the proposed estimation method for the static buckling load of the spacer grid was investigated.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volumes 353-358)
• Pages: 2581-2584
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.353-358.2581
• Online since: September 2007
• Authors: Sang Youn Jeon, Kyu Tae Kim, Young Shin Lee
• Keywords: Buckling Mode, Estimation Method, Fuel Assembly, Pressurized Water Reactor, Spacer Grid, Static Buckling Load

References

[1] KNFC(1994), Fuel Design Report for 17x17 Fuel Assembly, KNFC Proprietary.

[2] USNRC(1981), Evaluation of Fuel Assembly Structural Response to Externally Applied Forces, USNRC Standard Review Plan Section 4. 2 Appendix A.

[3] Swanson Analysis Systems Inc., ANSYS User's Manual, (2004).