Abstract
Grid-to-rod fretting wear is a significant cause of fuel failure in pressurized water reactors and poses a challenge in fuel performance evaluation. As burnup increases, neutron irradiation can lead to complex changes in the grid-to-rod system, affecting its dynamic behavior. This paper presents an enhanced mathematical model that can simulate the coupled axial-lateral motion and complex boundary conditions, including relaxation support, friction, and gap constraint. Through multiple parametric studies, the model has revealed valuable results. Notably, grid relaxation of 10%–30% significantly impacts wear. Multiple critical excitation frequencies can cause drastic changes in vibration and wear. The increase in holding force due to rod swelling and the early opening of the gap due to creep down require careful attention. Moreover, the effect of axial force on changes in natural frequency and increased wear should be considered.
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