Fluid-solid interaction of reactor core components, a preliminary analysis

A simple analytical model is used to examine the mechanical interaction of LMFBR core components with the surrounding coolant. Approximating a subassembly duct by a single degree of freedom oscillator and the coolant by a thin layer of viscous fluid, the problem was reduced to a nonlinear differential equation governing the motion of the oscillator. Approximate analytical and numerical solutions are presented which enable parametric studies useful in LMFBR core design.