Fretting Wear of the Fuel Cladding Tubes of Nuclear Fuel Rod against Supporting Grids

摘要

In the nuclear core at the nuclear power plant, the fretting damage happens between the nuclear fuel cladding tubes and the supporting grids [1]. The fretting wear was caused by FIV (flow induced vibration) [2]. The thickness of me nuclear fuel cladding tubes is decreased by fretting wear. Severe reduction in the thickness caused the fracture of the tubes. Many wear tests were performed in stationary water [2]. At previous studies, it was indicated that wear debris between two contacting surfaces had a large effect on the fretting wear [3]. In the case of stationary water, wear debris was left in contacting surfaces. Therefore, water flow would have some effects on fretting wear, even though wear debris was removed or left. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of water flow between contacting surfaces on the fretting wear behavior of nuclear fuel cladding tubes.