Fluid-coupling effects lead to a complex dynamical behavior of immersed spent fuel assembly storage racks. Predicting their responses under strong earthquakes is of prime importance for the safety of nuclear plant facilities. In the near-past we introduced a simplified linearized model for the vibrations of such systems, in which gap-averaged velocity and pressure fields were described analytically in terms of a single space-coordinate for each fluid inter-rack channel. Using such approach it was possible to generate and assemble a complete set of differential-algebraic equations describing the multi-rack fluid coupled system dynamics. Because of the linearization assumptions, we achieved computation of the flow-structure coupled modes, but also time-domain simulations of the system responses. However, nonlinear squeeze-film and dissipative flow effects, connected with very large amplitude responses and/or relatively small water gaps, cannot be properly accounted unless the linearization assumption is relaxed. Such is the aim of the present paper. Here, using a similar approach, we generalize our theoretical model to deal with nonlinear flow effects. Besides that the proposed methodology can be automatically implemented in a symbolic computational environment, it is much less computer-intensive than finite element formulations. Using the proposed technique, computations of basic flow-coupled rack configurations subjected to impulse excitations are presented, in order to highlight the essential features of such systems as well as the relevance of squeeze-film and dissipative effects. Finally, more realistic simulations of complex system responses to strong seismic excitations are presented and discussed.
The Effect of Fracture Roughness on the Onset of Nonlinear Flow
