Methods of Thermomechanical Reliability Validation of Thermal Water-Moderated and Water-Cooled Reactor Cores

Abstract

Methods of validating the thermomechanical reliability of the core of water-moderated and -cooled reactors that are used in reactor design practice are reviewed. The factors determining the thermomechanical reliability of the core and the particulars of the calculation of its criteria in using deterministic and statistical methods are examined. The advantages and disadvantages of different statistical approaches to taking account of the computational uncertainties are indicated. The particularities of using different methods for validating the thermomechanical reliability and their role in the reactor design process are colligated.