THEORETICAL BASIS FOR A TRANSIENT THERMALnELASTIC-PLASTIC STRESS ANALYSIS OFnNUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENTS

摘要

This report presents the theoretical basis for a transient thermal elastic-plastic stress analysis of a nuclear reactor fuel el¬ement subject to severe transient thermo-mechanical loading. A finite element formulation is used for both the non-linear stress analysis and thermal analysis. These two major components are linked together to form an integrated program capable of predicting fuel element transient be¬haviour in two dimensions. Specific case studies are presented to il¬lustrate capabilities of the analysis.