Analysis of Thermomechanical Behaviors of a Fuel Element using Three Dimensional Isoparametric Finite Elements

Abstract

In this paper, three dimensional heat transfer in a nuclear fuel element consisting of UO, pellets and Zircaloy sheath is investigated using the finite element method. Nine node isopararnetric elements are used in conjunction with the Fourier series for the modeling of three dimensional behavior of heat conduction in a system of axisymmetric solids. The nonlinear simultaneous equations of heat conduction are solved using the iterative approach. A computer program - FUEL3D is developed and used to obtain numerical simulation results for two heat transfer problems in a CANDU fuel element.