Abstract
The problem of monitoring the tightness of fuel elements at the stage of their manufacture to improve the radiation safety of nuclear power plants is considered. A vibration method is proposed for non-destructive testing of the tightness of cylindrical fuel rods. The method makes it possible to perform accelerated testing of a batch of fuel rods and remove samples with gross leakage under conditions of mass production. A description of the method is given, a mathematical model of free vibrations of a fuel element is developed. The time dependences of the pressure and the period of free oscillations of the fuel element were obtained by calculation. The assessment of the influence of the inhomogeneity of the fuel element structure on the test result is carried out. Inhomogeneity causes an error in measuring the oscillation period up to 1%, which can lead to a false result. Three-dimensional plots were constructed, reflecting the main form of free vibrations of a homogeneous and inhomogeneous section of a fuel element. On the basis of the performed assessment, recommendations were given for conducting fuel rod tightness control, excluding a false result.
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