Strain and stress analysis in the end-cap weld region of a fuel element

This paper presents the main features of a calculation approach that has been applied to the analysis of the local mechanical behaviour of the end-cap weld region of a typical PHWR (pressurized heavy water reactor) fuel element. Basically, the method combines a global fuel element behaviour computer code (rofem-1b) with a general purpose finite element computer code (tepsac). As an application example, the influence of the size and location of a discontinuity in the weld line on the stress-strain distribution has been evaluated under specific operational conditions.