Non-linear vibrations of nuclear fuel rods

Highlights: • Experimental study on vibrations of zirconium alloy nuclear fuel rods. • Large amplitude vibrations in non-linear regime. • Evidence of damping increase with vibration amplitude. • Presence of pellets, tests in air and submerged in water. • Detected internal-resonances due to axial-symmetry. - Abstract: Single zirconium alloy nuclear fuel rods with clamped-clamped boundary conditions and subjected to harmonic excitation at various force levels were experimentally studied. Different configurations were implemented, and the fuel rods were tested in air and submerged in quiescent water. Moreover, the effect of the contained fuel pellets was also reproduced by representative metallic pellets inside the rods. Non-linear stiffness and damping parameters were extracted from experimental vibration response curves by means of a specifically-developed identification tool. For the cases where the fuel pellets were removed or axially compressed, it was found that the axial-symmetry of the fuel rod resulted in a pronounced one-to-one internal resonance. The internal motion of the fuel pellets is a source of friction and impacts during vibrations, thus complicating further the linear and non-linear dynamic behavior of the system. A very significant increase of the viscous modal damping with the vibration amplitude was observed during geometrically non-linear vibrations, which is particularly relevant and in advantage of safety.