Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Multiphysics Finite Element Analysis Of In-Pile Sensors For Advanced Nuclear Reactors, Takoda Linn Bingham

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Nuclear reactors have large needs for in-pile sensors that are durable in high temperature, radioactive, and corrosive environments. With the use of multiphysics finite element analysis (FEA) researchers can speed up sensor prototyping. FEA also allows for a better fundamental understanding of sensors and enables sensor optimization. This research focuses on three types of in-pile sensors developed at Idaho National Laboratory: acoustic sensors, linear variable differential transformers (LVDT), and capacitance based strain gauges (CSG). Two acoustic sensors, magnetostrictive waveguides and piezoelectric surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors were first modeled. These models showed the acoustic wave patterns and estimated the speed …