Measurement techniques for column interface monitoring in an advanced gas cooled reactor model

This work features an important structural engineering project that provides experimental and numerical predictions to support the safety cases of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs) in the United Kingdom (UK). The AGR core columns must remain vertical within tight tolerances so that the control rods and the fuel stringers have a secure and unimpeded travel in and out the channels. This paper presents the design, development and testing of bespoke techniques for column interface measurements which feed into the channel shape calculations of a quarter size physical model of an AGR core, developed at the University of Bristol (UOB). The results will play a vital part in the characterization of the core's dynamic behaviour and will feed into the seismic resilience assessments of the AGRs.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the experimental and numerical predictions to support the safety of AGRs, with a particular emphasis on the core columns and channel shape calculations. The results will contribute to the assessment of the core's dynamic behavior and seismic resilience.