Vibration of the Package of Rods Linked by Spacer Grids

This paper deals with modelling and vibration analysis of the large package of identical parallel rods which are linked by transverse springs (spacer grids) placed on several level spacings. The vibration of rods is caused by the support plate motion. The rod discretization by FEM is based on Rayleigh beam theory. With respect to cyclic and central package rod symmetry, the system is decomposed to identical revolved rod segments. The modal synthesis method with condensation of the rod segments is used for modelling and determination of steady forced vibration of the whole system. The presented method is the first step to modelling of the nuclear fuel assembly vibration caused by kinematical excitation determined by motion of the support plates which are part of the reactor core.