Vibration Characteristics of a Plate Type Fuel Assembly

A flat fuel plate and a box type fuel assembly for a research reactor were modeled to be finite element meshes of the ANSYS to predict dynamic characteristics, such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. These characteristics provide the basic information about their vibrations. If the model is properly prepared, it can be used for further calculations of the dynamic behaviors under the SSE or even in the static stress calculation. With the FE Model, the natural frequencies and the mode shapes of a fuel plate and a FA were obtained in air and in water environments. The effects of fluid surrounding the fuel plate and the FA as well as the combs on the natural vibration of the FA are discussed. (author)