Structural finite element analysis of ITER In-wall shield

Abstract

The In-wall shielding (IWS) located between two shells of the vacuum vessel is part of the vacuum vessel of ITER. The function of the IWS is to provide neutron shielding and to reduce toroidal field ripple. The IWS plates are fastened using M30 bolts to hold them securely and the IWS blocks are mounted to the support ribs using the brackets and M20 bolts. The paper presents a structural finite element analysis of one sample IWS block carried out using ANSYS* to establish the benchmark analysis procedure of the IWS blocks. Boundary conditions are set taking into account the assembly procedure of the IWS blocks. The analysis is carried out in three load steps (1). Pretension on M30 (2). Pretension on M30 and M20 and (3) pretension on M30 and M20 plus Electromagnetic forces, dynamic forces, Seismic forces, etc. The stresses and displacements of individual IWS components are evaluated against their allowable stress limits as per an ASME guideline. The ITER-India’s results of analysis are compared with the ITER-IO’s results for the worst category 3-load step 3 and they are found comparable. This establishes the analysis procedure to be used for all of the IWS blocks.