CASL virtual reactor predictive simulation: Grid-to-Rod Fretting wear

Grid-to-Rod Fretting (GTRF) wear is currently one of the main causes of fuel rod leaking in pressurized water reactors. The Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL) has identified GTRF as one of the Challenge Problems that drive the requirement for the development and application of a modeling and simulation computational environment for predictive simulation of light water reactors. This paper presents fretting wear simulation methodology currently employed by Westinghouse, a CASL industrial partner, to address GTRF. The required advancements in the computational and materials science modeling areas to develop a predictive simulation environment by CASL to address GTRF are outlined. © 2011 TMS.