• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2012

A spacer grid which is one of the most important structural components in a pressurized water reactor fuel is an interconnected array of slotted grid straps, welded at the intersections to form an egg-crate structure. The spacer grid is required to not only protect fuel rods stably but also have sufficient lateral crush strength for the sake of enabling shut-down of the nuclear reactor during abnormal operating environments. Then, the lateral crush strength of the spacer grid is closely related with welding quality of the spacer grid. Previous research on the crush strength analysis of the spacer grid had been performed using only parent material properties. In this study, to investigate the effect on the crush strength of the spacer grid when used mechanical properties in weld zone instead of parent material properties, crush strength analysis considering mechanical properties in weld zone obtained from the instrumented indentation technique was performed and compared the results with the previous research.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2011

Primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) has been found in the weld region of the nuclear power plant. Welding can produce tensile residual stress. Tensile residual stress contributes to the initiation and growth of PWSCC. It is important to estimate weld residual stress accurately to predict or prevent the initiation and growth of PWSCC. This paper shows the results of finite element analysis and measurement experiment for weld residual stress. For the study, four kinds of specimen were fabricated with the materials used in the nuclear power plant. Residual stresses were measured by four kinds of methods of hole drilling, x-ray diffraction, instrumented indentation and sectioning. Through the study, numerical analysis and measurement results were compared and the characteristics of each measurement technique were observed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.37 no.11
• /
• pp.1415-1421
• /
• 2013

Recently, to resolve problems regarding legal liability for accidents and disasters, various simulation techniques such as F.E.M. and F.V.M. have been used in the field of forensic engineering. In this study, we performed mechanical structure analysis using ADINA to investigate the cause of bridge collapse accidents. Such accidents occurred owing to modified and missing processes in comparison with the original design while filling with concrete. Modified and missing processes cause buckling of the upper plate and twisting of the main girder. Through this study, we determine the exact cause of bridge collapse by comparing the evaluation of the structure stability of the original design with the evaluation of the structure stability of the modified and missing process using ADINA structure analysis. Hence, this result indicates that buckling prediction through FEA is the most effective method.