Vibration Modelling - Investigation of Mechanical Accident Sequences at a VVER-440 Type Reactor

During abnormal core barrel motion of a VVER-440 type reactor significant phase relations and coherences between incore and excore neutron noise signals were observed. For the explanation of the phenomena a numerical algorithm based on the non-linear equations of motion of a double pendulum was developed. In order to confirm the numerical results qualitatively additional experiments at a small set-up modelling the control elements were performed. The typical signal patterns observed at the VVER-440 could be shown to originate from mechanical impacts between the control elements and the neighbouring fuel cassettes.