A comprehensive model for in-plane and out-of-plane vibration of CANDU fuel endplate rings

• Proposed an effective method for modelling bending and torsional vibration of CANDU fuel endplate rings.
• Applied successfully the thick plate theory to curved structural members by accounting for the transverse shear effect.
• The proposed method is computationally more efficient compared to the 3D finite element.

In this paper, a comprehensive vibration model is developed for analysing in-plane and out-of-plane vibration of CANDU fuel endplate rings by taking into consideration the effects of in-plane extension in the circumferential and radial directions, shear, and rotatory inertia. The model is based on Reddy’s thick plate theory and the nine-node isoparametric Lagrangian plate finite elements. Natural frequencies of various modes of vibration of circular rings obtained using the proposed method are compared with 3D finite element results, experimental data and results available in the literature. Excellent agreement was achieved.