applied fracture mechanics

Methodology for Pressurized Thermal Shock Analysis in Nuclear Power Plant 271Such phenomena require a more detailed analysis at small scale level in order to betteridentify the position, the size of the overcooled region, the duration of the cooling phase andthe cooling rate.In order to reach this goal the use of the CFD code is envisaged taking the boundaryconditions from the system thermal hydraulic code results. The only limitation in the use ofsuch codes is the large computational resources required. Because of this, the analysis isrestricted to the time period during the maximum cooling phase.The boundary conditions to the CFD code from the system thermal hydraulic code aretransferred following a scheme reported in Figure 4. The mass flow rates and the fluidtemperature of the injected fluid in the cold legs and down-comer calculated by the SYS-THcode are imposed to the CFD model.Figure 4. Coupling technique between SYS-TH and CFD codes5. Analysis at small scale by means a CFD codeThe second step of the methodology foresees the analysis at small scale by mean a CFD codefor a more detailed calculation of the profile temperature inside the down-comer.The CFD computer codes solve the Navier-Stokes equations optionally two or threedimensionally,having the potential to reach the necessary degree of detailing.With the increasing speed of modern computers, CFD techniques are becoming more widelyused and may provide the best tool for computing the thermal fluid mixing. An example