Dynamic Experiments in Air and Water on PEC Fast Reactor Core Configurations

Dynamic experiments have been performed by ISMES on behalf of ENEA in air and water (simulating sodium) on core configurations of the Italian PEC fast reactor test facility, with the aim of evaluating fluid-structure interaction effects on core frequency response in an earthquake. Bundles of one, seven and nineteen mock-ups reproducing fuel, reflecting and neutron shield elements in full scale have been analysed on shaking tables. The tests have concerned both groups of equal elements (fuel and neutron shield mock-ups) and mixed configurations which correspond to real core parts. The effects of the PEC core-restraint ring have also been analysed, by applying excitations to the core diagrid of up 2. 5 g. The paper presents the experimental results in terms of effects on frequency response, amplifications and displacements.