Finite-element formulations for the thermal stress analysis of two- and three-dimensional thin reactor structures

In several postulated LMFBR subassembly-to-subassembly failure propagation events, it is hypothesized that the duct wall of an accident subassembly fails and deposits molten fuel on the outer wall of an adjacent subassembly. It is therefore necessary to determine if the deposited fuel will fail the adjacent wall and thus propagate the event. This entails a thermal stress analysis, and since at times the adjacent subassembly is internally pressurized, thermomechanical analysis are also of value. Solutions are presented for several elastic plastic thermal problems. Some of these examples are compared to available analytic solutions. In addition, the hypothetical accident of molten fuel deposition on the adjacent hexcan is addressed. Combinations of pressure and thermal loading are considered. It is shown that the principal feature of the response is a large in-plane compressive stress which would undoubtedly cause buckling