• Coupled systems mechanics
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.111-145
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• 2014

In this paper we present a new model for computing the nonlinear response of reinforced concrete frame systems subjected to extreme thermomechanical loads. The first main feature of the model is its ability to account for both bending and shear failure of the reinforced concrete composites within frame-like model. The second prominent feature concerns the model capability to represent the total degradation of the material properties due to high temperature and the thermal deformations. Several numerical simulations are given to confirm these capabilities and illustrate a very satisfying model performance.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.119-128
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• 2016

This work presents the numerical investigation of an unsteady cavitating flow around a balancing drum of a multistage pump. The main attention is focused on the cavitation phenomena, which occur in the rear part of the drum clearance, cause the erosion of the drum material and influence the pressure losses and the flow rate through the clearance. The one-way coupling of the URANS equations and the full Rayleigh-Plesset equation is employed to analyse the flow field as well as the dynamics of cavitating bubbles. The numerical simulations show that the erosion processes are highly influenced by shaft vibrations, namely by periodic deformations of the annular clearance in time. The calculated results are verified by erosion tests on a real pump.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권5호
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• pp.1602-1611
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• 2021

A varying degree of eccentricity always exists in the initial configuration of a nuclear fuel rod. Its impact on traditional LWR fuel is limited as the radial gap closes relatively early during irradiation. However, the effect of misalignment is expected to be more relevant in rods with highly conductive fuels, large initial gaps and low conductivity filling gases. In this paper, we study similar characteristics in the experimental setup of two fuel disc irradiation campaigns carried out in the OECD Halden Boiling Water Reactor. Using the multi-dimensional fuel performance code OFFBEAT, we combine 2-D axisymmetric and 3-D simulations to investigate the effect of eccentricity on the fuel temperature distribution. At the same time, we illustrate how the advent of modern tools with multi-dimensional capabilities might further improve the design and interpretation of in-pile separate-effect tests and we outline the potential of such an analysis for upcoming experiments.

• Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.45-65
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• 2002

A constitutive model on oorthotropic thermo-elasto-viscoplasticity for fiber-reinforced composite materials Is illustrated, and their thermomechanical responses are predicted with the fully-coupled finite element formulation. The unmixing-mixing scheme can be adopted with the multipartite matrix method as the constitutive model. Basic assumptions based upon the composite micromechanics are postulated, and the strain components of thermal expansion due to temperature change are included In the formulation. Also. more than two sets of mechanical variables, which represent the deformation states of multipartite matrix can be introduced arbitrarily. In particular, the unmixing-mixing scheme can be used with any well-known isotropic viscoplastic theory of the matrix material. The scheme unnecessitates the complex processes for developing an orthotropic viscoplastic theory. The governing equations based on fully-coupled thermomechanics are derived with constitutive arrangement by the unmixing-mixing concept. By considering some auxiliary conditions, the Initial-boundary value problem Is completely set up. As a tool of numerical analyses, the finite element method Is used with isoparametric Interpolation fer the displacement and the temperature fields. The equation of mutton and the energy conservation equation are spatially discretized, and then the time marching techniques such as the Newmark method and the Crank-Nicolson technique are applied. To solve the ultimate nonlinear simultaneous equations, a successive iteration algorithm is constructed with subincrementing technique. As a numerical study, a series of analyses are performed with the main focus on the thermomechanical coupling effect in composite materials. The progress of viscoplastic deformation, the stress-strain relation, and the temperature History are careful1y examined when composite laminates are subjected to repeated cyclic loading.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.1-25
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• 2014

In this work, we present the theoretical formulation, operator split solution procedure and partitioned software development for the coupled thermomechanical systems. We consider the general case with nonlinear evolution for each sub-system (either mechanical or thermal) with dedicated time integration scheme for each sub-system. We provide the condition that guarantees the stability of such an operator split solution procedure for fully nonlinear evolution of coupled thermomechanical system. We show that the proposed solution procedure can accommodate different evolution time-scale for different sub-systems, and allow for different time steps for the corresponding integration scheme. We also show that such an approach is perfectly suitable for parallel computations. Several numerical simulations are presented in order to illustrate very satisfying performance of the proposed solution procedure and confirm the theoretical speed-up of parallel computations, which follow from the adequate choice of the time step for each sub-problem. This work confirms that one can make the most appropriate selection of the time step with respect to the characteristic time-scale, carry out the separate computations for each sub-system, and then enforce the coupling to preserve the stability of the operator split computations. The software development strategy of direct linking the (existing) codes for each sub-system via Component Template Library (CTL) is shown to be perfectly suitable for the proposed approach.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.401-422
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• 2005

We review here research and development progress achieved in US Plasma Chamber technology roughly over the last decade. In particular, we focus on two major programs carried out in the US: the APEX project (1998-2003) and the US ITER TBM activities (2003-present). The APEX project grew out of the US fusion program emphasis in the late 1990s on more fundamental science and innovation. APEX was commissioned to investigate novel technology concepts for achieving high power density and high temperature reactor coolants. In particular, the idea of liquid walls and the related research is described here, with some detailed examples of liquid metal and molten salt magnetohydrodynamic and free surface effects on flow control and heat transfer. The ongoing US ITER Test Blanket Module (TBM) program is also described, where the current first wall/blanket concepts being considered are the dual coolant lead lithium concept and the solid breeder helium cooled concepts, both using ferritic steel structures. The research described for these concepts includes both thermofluid MHD issues for the liquid metal coolant in the DCLL, and thermomechanical issues for ceramic breeder packed pebble beds in the solid breeder concept. Finally, future directions for ongoing research in these areas are described.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.147-154
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• 2006

Thermal fatigue of the coolant circuits of PWR plants is a major issue for nuclear safety. The problem is especially accute in mixing zones, like T-junctions, where large differences in water temperature between the two inlets and high levels of turbulence can lead to large temperature fluctuations at the wall. Until recently, studies on the matter had been tackled at EDF using steady methods: the fluid flow was solved with a CFD code using an averaged turbulence model, which led to the knowledge of the mean temperature and temperature variance at each point of the wall. But, being based on averaged quantities, this method could not reproduce the unsteady and 3D effects of the problem, like phase lag in temperature oscillations between two points, which can generate important stresses. Benefiting from advances in computer power and turbulence modelling, a new methodology is now applied, that allows to take these effects into account. The CFD tool Code_Saturne, developped at EDF, is used to solve the fluid flow using an unsteady L.E.S. approach. It is coupled with the thermal code Syrthes, which propagates the temperature fluctuations into the wall thickness. The instantaneous temperature field inside the wall can then be extracted and used for structure mechanics computations (mainly with EDF thermomechanics tool Code_Aster). The purpose of this paper is to present the application of this methodology to the simulation of a straight T-junction mock-up, similar to the Residual Heat Remover (RHR) junction found in N4 type PWR nuclear plants, and designed to study thermal striping and cracks propagation. The results are generally in good agreement with the measurements; yet, in certain areas of the flow, progress is still needed in L.E.S. modelling and in the treatment of instantaneous heat transfer at the wall.