Modelling the role of pellet crack motion in the (r-θ) plane upon pellet-clad interaction in advanced gas reactor fuel

Haynes, T. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0058-2939, Ball, J. A. and Wenman, M. R. (2017) Modelling the role of pellet crack motion in the (r-θ) plane upon pellet-clad interaction in advanced gas reactor fuel. Nuclear Engineering and Design, 314. pp. 271-284. ISSN 0029-5493

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Abstract

A finite element model of pellet fragment relocation in the r-θ plane of advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) fuel is presented under conditions of both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ pellet-clad interaction. The model was able to predict the additional radial displacement of fuel fragments towards the cladding as well as the stress concentration on the inner surface resulting from the azimuthal motion of pellet fragments. The model was subjected to a severe ramp in power from both full power and after a period of reduced power operation; in the former, the maximum hoop stress in the cladding was found to be increased by a factor of 1.6 as a result of modelling the pellet fragment motion. The pellet-clad interaction was found to be relatively insensitive to the number of radial pellet crack. However, it was very sensitive to both the coefficient of friction used between the clad and pellet fragments and power ramp duration.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Engineering
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2021 08:15
Last Modified: 23 Oct 2022 03:16
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/82024
DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2017.02.007

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