Analyses of impact phenomena between PWR fuel assemblies in earthquakes situations

The response of Pressurized Water Reactor cores to earthquakes takes the form of lateral motion of the fuel assemblies, which impact at the grid locations. To promote the development of new grid designs, Framatome Division Combustible, in conjunction with the Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique, has launched an experimental program whose aim is to enhance knowledge of fuel assembly behavior under lateral load conditions.