Vibration analysis of the pressure vessel internals of WWER-1000 type reactors with consideration of fluid–structure interaction

The influence of fluid–structure interaction (FSI) on vibration modes is investigated using the finite element method. The method of modelling is verified by comparing the finite element results with the exact analytical solution of a simple fluid–shell test system. It is shown that the method of coupling between structural and fluid elements is important for the accuracy of the eigenfrequencies. The vibration modes of the reactor pressure vessel and its internals of a WWER-1000 type reactor are calculated. The FSI causes a considerable down shift of the shell mode frequencies of pressure vessel, core barrel and thermal shield. Some bending modes which exhibit a relative displacement between pressure vessel and core barrel or between core barrel and thermal shield are significantly affected too. Some simple analytical approaches to consider the FSI are discussed on the basis of the numerical results.