A spacer grid is one of the main structural components in a fuel assembly of a Pressurized light Water Reactor (PWR). It supports fuel rods, guides cooling water, and maintains geometry from external impact loads. A simulation is performed for the strength of a spacer grid under impact load. The critical impact load that leads to plastic deformation is identified by a free-fall test. A finite element model is established for the nonlinear simulation of the test. The simulation model is tuned based on the free-fall test. The model considers the aspects of welding and the contacts between components. Nonlinear finite element analysis is carried out by a software system called LS/DYNA3D. The results are discussed from a design viewpoint.

Volume Subject Area:
Structural Integrity, Dynamics and Mitigation, Material and Failure
Topics:
Fuel rods, Pressurized water reactors, Springs, Stress, Simulation, Computer software, Cooling, Deformation, Design, Finite element analysis, Finite element model, Fuels, Geometry, Light water reactors, Manufacturing, Simulation models, Structural elements (Construction), Water, Welding
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Copyright © 2002
 by ASME
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