Using Finite Model Analysis and Out of Hot Cell Surrogate Rod Testing to Analyze High Burnup Used Nuclear Fuel Mechanical Properties

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1148865· OSTI ID:1148865

Wang, Jy-An John ^[1]; Jiang, Hao ^[1]; Wang, Hong ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Based on a series of FEA simulations, the discussions and the conclusions concerning the impact of the interface bonding efficiency to SNF vibration integrity are provided in this report; this includes the moment carrying capacity distribution between pellets and clad, and the impact of cohesion bonding on the flexural rigidity of the surrogate rod system. As progressive de-bonding occurs at the pellet-pellet interfaces and at the pellet-clad interface, the load ratio of the bending moment carrying capacity gradually shifts from the pellets to the clad; the clad starts to carry a significant portion of the bending moment resistance until reaching the full de-bonding state at the pellet-pellet interface regions. This results in localized plastic deformation of the clad at the pellet-pellet-clad interface region; the associated plastic deformations of SS clad leads to a significant degradation in the stiffness of the surrogate rod. For instance, the flexural rigidity was reduced by 39% from the perfect bond state to the de-bonded state at the pellet-pellet interfaces.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1148865
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM--2014/257; AF5865010; NEAF346
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Spent nuclear fuel
fuel-pellet interface
transportation