Strength analysis of WWER-1000 reactor fuel assembly

Authors: Alekseev D.I.
Published in issue: #5(58)/2021
DOI: 10.18698/2541-8009-2021-5-698
Category: Power, Metallurgic and Chemical Engineering | Chapter: Nuclear power plant
Keywords: reactor fuel assembly, stiffness, deformation, static loading, natural frequencies, resonance, stability
Published: 24.05.2021

The article is devoted to the influence of constant and variable loads on the serviceability of an open reactor fuel assembly of a WWER-type reactor (pressurized water-cooled power reactor) under normal operating conditions. Using a simplified model as an example, it is shown how the structure geometry changes in the region of elastic deformations at a given frequency range. All calculations were performed using the Ansys Workbench v. 2020. As a result of the analysis, the stability of the assembly is assessed, natural frequencies and modes of vibration are found, and the first resonant frequency is determined. Based on the static loading of the model under study, conclusions are drawn about the maximum permissible conditions of mechanical loading and the first form of buckling is visualized.

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