Nonlinear Dynamic Lateral Buckling Behavior of a Grid Structures

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The spacer grid is one of the main structural components in fuel assembly, which supports the fuel rods, guides cooling water, and protects the fuel assembly from the external impact load such as earthquakes. The nonlinear dynamic impact analysis is conducted by using the finite element code ABAQUS/Explicit. Boundary condition for dynamic analysis is well applied to the test condition. Simulation results also similarly predict the local buckling phenomena. In addition to the buckling parameter, the local buckling cause is examined by both simulation and test method. It is found to correspond well with the test results. Impact tests are also carried out for some specimens of the spacer grid in order to compare the results between the test and the simulation. This test is accomplished by a free fall dummy weight onto the specimen. From this test, only the uppermost and lowermost layers of the multi-cell are buckled, which implies the local buckling at the weakest point of the grid structure.