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Experimental validation of the seismic analysis methodology for free-standing spent fuel racks
Date Issued
2019-01-04
Date Available
2019-05-28T14:09:58Z
Abstract
Spent fuel racks are steel structures used in the storage of the spent fuel removed from the nuclear power reactor. Rack units are submerged in the depths of the spent fuel pool to keep the fuel cool. Their free-standing design isolates their bases from the pool floor reducing structural stresses in case of seismic event. However, these singular features complicate their seismic analysis which involves a transient dynamic response with geometrical nonlinearities and fluid-structure interactions. An accurate estimation of the response is essential to achieve a safe pool layout and a reliable structural design. An analysis methodology based on the hydrodynamic mass concept and implicit integration algorithms was developed ad-hoc, but some dispersion of results still remains. In order to validate the analysis methodology, vibration tests are carried out on a reduced scale mock-up of a 2-rack system. The two rack mockups are submerged in free-standing conditions inside a rigid pool tank loaded with fake fuel assemblies and subjected to accelerations on a unidirectional shaking table. This article compares the experimental data with the numerical outputs of a finite element model built in ANSYS Mechanical. The in-phase motion of both units is highlighted and the water coupling effect is detailed. Results show a good agreement validating the methodology.
Sponsorship
European Commission Horizon 2020
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Volume
51
Issue
3
Start Page
884
End Page
893
Copyright (Published Version)
2019 Korean Nuclear Society
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1738-5733
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
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Name
Gonzalez Merino_etal_2019_Experimental validation of the seismic analysis methodology for free standing spent fuel racks.pdf
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1.95 MB
Format
Owning collection
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