HYDRAULIC INSTABILITY OF REACTOR PARALLEL-PLATE FUEL ASSEMBLIES

The work on the hydraulic collapse or instability of flat plates was extended by considering flow redistribution and the effect of unequal friction drops in the deflected region of the channels. A general formula for the pressure distribution over a plate as a function of the plate deflection is derived. From this general formula, linearized formulas for small deflections are derived for the pressure distribution and the critical velocity. Graphs of pressure distribution for various assumed deflection curves are presented. Formulas and curves are given for the magnification of initial deflections as a function of approach to the critical velocity. (auth)