Development and verification of an efficient collision algorithm for seismic analysis of fast reactor core assemblies

Abstract

A dense arrangement of fast reactor core assemblies requires the development of a dedicated seismic analysis code to accurately simulate collision behaviors during seismic events. A fast reactor core assemblies seismic analysis code, named FASC, is constructed, verified and applied in this study. In the construction part, a multi-assemblies seismic analysis model based on the arrangement and structural characteristics of sodium fast reactor cores, with the capability of addressing the non-linear multi-point and multi-angle collision problems, has been established. In the verification part, analysis demonstrates a high degree of agreement between FASC’s predictions and experimental results. In the application part, FASC is utilized in seismic analysis of CEFR core assemblies. The results show that FASC is capable of analyzing the earthquake response of fast reactor core assemblies with adequate accuracy.