Numerical Simulation Study on Static Buckling Behavior of Bimetallic Spacer Grids

Zhou Ming; Xiao Zhong; Ren Quanyao; Qin Mian; He Rui; Pu Zengping; Li Zhengyang

doi:10.13832/j.jnpe.2024.050031

Volume 46 Issue 3

Jun. 2025

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Article Navigation > Nuclear Power Engineering > 2025 > 46(3): 160-165

Zhou Ming, Xiao Zhong, Ren Quanyao, Qin Mian, He Rui, Pu Zengping, Li Zhengyang. Numerical Simulation Study on Static Buckling Behavior of Bimetallic Spacer Grids[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(3): 160-165. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2024.050031

Citation:

Zhou Ming, Xiao Zhong, Ren Quanyao, Qin Mian, He Rui, Pu Zengping, Li Zhengyang. Numerical Simulation Study on Static Buckling Behavior of Bimetallic Spacer Grids[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(3): 160-165. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2024.050031

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Numerical Simulation Study on Static Buckling Behavior of Bimetallic Spacer Grids

doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2024.050031

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology, Nuclear Power Institute of China, Chengdu, 610213, China

Received Date: 2024-05-20
Rev Recd Date: 2024-07-06

Available Online: 2025-06-09

Publish Date: 2025-06-09

Abstract

Abstract

The buckling behavior of spacer grids can seriously affect the safety of fuel assemblies. To understand the static buckling evolution characteristics of spacer grids, this study established a numerical model of bimetallic spacer grids using the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) method. The model was validated by comparing computational results with experimental data, and the influence of initial clamping force on grid strength was studied. The calculation results show that the critical buckling load obtained by numerical simulation is in good agreement with the experimental results. The primary cause of spacer grid buckling is the plastic deformation occurring in straps adjacent to the central transverse row, which subsequently propagates throughout the entire structure. The decrease of spring clamping force has little effects on the critical buckling strength of the spacer grid, but has great effects on the response after buckling. The numerical analysis method in this paper can predict the static critical buckling load of bimetallic spacer grid and provide support for the structural design of new spacer grid.
- Spacer grids,
- Finite element analysis (FEA),
- Critical buckling load,
- Initial clamping force

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References(11)

References

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