PlateMeshGenerator

Generates a mesh of plate fuel.

Description

The mesh is generated to center the plate in the x and y directions and to place the back of the plate at z = 0.

The PlateMeshGenerator generates a 3D mesh of a nuclear fuel plate. The mesh includes fuel, liner, and cladding blocks (block number 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The mesh includes sidesets as follows:

Sideset	Description
`1`	back of cladding (`back`)
`2`	bottom of cladding (`bottom`)
`3`	right of cladding (`right`)
`4`	top of cladding (`top`)
`5`	left of cladding (`left`)
`6`	front of cladding (`front`)
`7`	all exterior cladding surfaces (`all_exterior`)
`11`	back of fuel (`fuel_back`)
`12`	bottom of fuel (`fuel_bottom`)
`13`	right of fuel (`fuel_right`)
`14`	top of fuel (`fuel_top`)
`15`	left of fuel (`fuel_left`)
`16`	front of fuel (`fuel_front`)
`17`	all of fuel (`fuel_all`)
`21`	inner back of cladding (`cladding_inner_back`)
`22`	inner bottom of cladding (`cladding_inner_bottom`)
`23`	inner right of cladding (`cladding_inner_right`)
`24`	inner top of cladding (`cladding_inner_top`)
`25`	inner left of cladding (`cladding_inner_left`)
`26`	inner front of cladding (`cladding_inner_front`)
`27`	all inner cladding surfaces (`cladding_inner_all`)
`28`	all cladding surfaces (`cladding_all`)
`31`	outer z direction of liner (`liner_outer_z`)
`32`	bottom of liner (`liner_bottom`)
`33`	right of liner (`liner_right`)
`34`	top of liner (`liner_top`)
`35`	left of liner (`liner_left`)
`36`	inner z direction of liner (`liner_inner_z`)
`37`	all liner surfaces (`liner_all`)

If radius is given, the adjustment to the mesh is applied after adjustments due to move_directions and move_functions. The radius adjustment is as follows: $var element = document.getElementById("moose-equation-857aa442-e00a-49ff-a08e-1bd122ed7a68");katex.render(" x_1 = x_0", element, {displayMode:true,throwOnError:false});$ $var element = document.getElementById("moose-equation-571b5e2b-1d2d-44e4-a7d2-e460c801b92a");katex.render(" \\theta = y_0 / r", element, {displayMode:true,throwOnError:false});$ $var element = document.getElementById("moose-equation-5bae1679-24bb-4316-8bc9-8744041e6484");katex.render(" y_1 = (r + z_0) \\mathrm{sin}(\\theta)", element, {displayMode:true,throwOnError:false});$ $var element = document.getElementById("moose-equation-6d397f64-7968-4582-b9c2-63f83b617e5b");katex.render(" z_1 = (r + z_0) \\mathrm{cos}(\\theta) - r", element, {displayMode:true,throwOnError:false});$ where x, y, and z are the coordinates of a point and the subscripts 0 and 1 denote original and new, respectively.

[Mesh<<<{"href": "../../syntax/Mesh/index.html"}>>>]
  [plate]
    type = PlateMeshGenerator<<<{"description": "Generates a mesh of plate fuel.", "href": "PlateMeshGenerator.html"}>>>
    fuel_dimensions<<<{"description": "Length of the fuel in the x, y, and z directions."}>>> = '.5 .5 .05'
    liner_thickness<<<{"description": "Thickness of the liner material (equal on both sides of fuel)."}>>> = .05
    cladding_thicknesses<<<{"description": "Left, right, bottom, top, back, and front thicknesses of cladding."}>>> = '0.5 1 0.25 0.25 0.05 0.1'
    number_fuel_elements<<<{"description": "Number of fuel elements in the x, y, and z directions."}>>> = '8 2 1'
    number_cladding_elements<<<{"description": "Number of elements at the left, right, bottom, top, back, and front sides of the fuel"}>>> = '2 2 2 2 2 3'
    number_liner_elements<<<{"description": "Number of liner elements on either side of the fuel."}>>> = 3
    radius<<<{"description": "Inner radius of fuel plate.  The radius adjustment is applied after \"move_functions\"."}>>> = 2
    move_directions<<<{"description": "List of coordinate directions to be moved according to \"move_functions\"."}>>> = 'z'
    move_functions<<<{"description": "List of function expressions used to move coordinate directions according to \"move_directions\". The new coordinate will be the old coordinate plus the value returned by the function."}>>> = '0.2*(x+1)*(y+0.5)/2.0*z'
  []
[]

Input Parameters

cladding_thicknessesLeft, right, bottom, top, back, and front thicknesses of cladding.
C++ Type:std::vector<double>
Unit:(no unit assumed)
Controllable:No
Description:Left, right, bottom, top, back, and front thicknesses of cladding.
fuel_dimensionsLength of the fuel in the x, y, and z directions.
C++ Type:std::vector<double>
Unit:(no unit assumed)
Controllable:No
Description:Length of the fuel in the x, y, and z directions.
number_cladding_elementsNumber of elements at the left, right, bottom, top, back, and front sides of the fuel
C++ Type:std::vector<unsigned int>
Controllable:No
Description:Number of elements at the left, right, bottom, top, back, and front sides of the fuel
number_fuel_elementsNumber of fuel elements in the x, y, and z directions.
C++ Type:std::vector<unsigned int>
Controllable:No
Description:Number of fuel elements in the x, y, and z directions.
number_liner_elementsNumber of liner elements on either side of the fuel.
C++ Type:unsigned int
Controllable:No
Description:Number of liner elements on either side of the fuel.

Required Parameters

liner_thicknessThickness of the liner material (equal on both sides of fuel).
C++ Type:double
Unit:(no unit assumed)
Controllable:No
Description:Thickness of the liner material (equal on both sides of fuel).
move_directionsList of coordinate directions to be moved according to "move_functions".
C++ Type:MultiMooseEnum
Options:x, y, z
Controllable:No
Description:List of coordinate directions to be moved according to "move_functions".
move_functionsList of function expressions used to move coordinate directions according to "move_directions". The new coordinate will be the old coordinate plus the value returned by the function.
C++ Type:std::vector<std::string>
Controllable:No
Description:List of function expressions used to move coordinate directions according to "move_directions". The new coordinate will be the old coordinate plus the value returned by the function.
radius0Inner radius of fuel plate. The radius adjustment is applied after "move_functions".
Default:0
C++ Type:double
Unit:(no unit assumed)
Controllable:No
Description:Inner radius of fuel plate. The radius adjustment is applied after "move_functions".

Optional Parameters

enableTrueSet the enabled status of the MooseObject.
Default:True
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Set the enabled status of the MooseObject.
save_with_nameKeep the mesh from this mesh generator in memory with the name specified
C++ Type:std::string
Controllable:No
Description:Keep the mesh from this mesh generator in memory with the name specified

Advanced Parameters

nemesisFalseWhether or not to output the mesh file in the nemesisformat (only if output = true)
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Whether or not to output the mesh file in the nemesisformat (only if output = true)
outputFalseWhether or not to output the mesh file after generating the mesh
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Whether or not to output the mesh file after generating the mesh
show_infoFalseWhether or not to show mesh info after generating the mesh (bounding box, element types, sidesets, nodesets, subdomains, etc)
Default:False
C++ Type:bool
Controllable:No
Description:Whether or not to show mesh info after generating the mesh (bounding box, element types, sidesets, nodesets, subdomains, etc)

Debugging Parameters

(test/tests/plate_mesh/plate_mesh.i)

#
# Test of capability to generate plate meshes.
#
# This test builds a fuel, liner, cladding mesh.  The mesh's z coordinate is
# adjusted by the expression in move_functions.  Then, the mesh is curved
# due to radius = 2.
#

[Mesh]
  [plate]
    type = PlateMeshGenerator
    fuel_dimensions = '.5 .5 .05'
    liner_thickness = .05
    cladding_thicknesses = '0.5 1 0.25 0.25 0.05 0.1'
    number_fuel_elements = '8 2 1'
    number_cladding_elements = '2 2 2 2 2 3'
    number_liner_elements = 3
    radius = 2
    move_directions = 'z'
    move_functions = '0.2*(x+1)*(y+0.5)/2.0*z'
  []
[]

[Variables]
  [u]
  []
[]

[Kernels]
  [diff]
    type = Diffusion
    variable = u
  []
[]

[BCs]
  [back]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = u
    boundary = back
    value = 100
  []
  [front]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = u
    boundary = front
    value = 200
  []
[]

[Executioner]
  type = Transient
  start_time = 0.0
  end_time = 1.0
[]

[Postprocessors]
  [fuelVolume]
    type = InternalVolume
    boundary = fuel_all
  []
  [totalVolume]
    type = InternalVolume
    boundary = all
  []
[]

[Outputs]
  exodus = true
[]

(test/tests/plate_mesh/plate_mesh.i)

#
# Test of capability to generate plate meshes.
#
# This test builds a fuel, liner, cladding mesh.  The mesh's z coordinate is
# adjusted by the expression in move_functions.  Then, the mesh is curved
# due to radius = 2.
#

[Mesh]
  [plate]
    type = PlateMeshGenerator
    fuel_dimensions = '.5 .5 .05'
    liner_thickness = .05
    cladding_thicknesses = '0.5 1 0.25 0.25 0.05 0.1'
    number_fuel_elements = '8 2 1'
    number_cladding_elements = '2 2 2 2 2 3'
    number_liner_elements = 3
    radius = 2
    move_directions = 'z'
    move_functions = '0.2*(x+1)*(y+0.5)/2.0*z'
  []
[]

[Variables]
  [u]
  []
[]

[Kernels]
  [diff]
    type = Diffusion
    variable = u
  []
[]

[BCs]
  [back]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = u
    boundary = back
    value = 100
  []
  [front]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = u
    boundary = front
    value = 200
  []
[]

[Executioner]
  type = Transient
  start_time = 0.0
  end_time = 1.0
[]

[Postprocessors]
  [fuelVolume]
    type = InternalVolume
    boundary = fuel_all
  []
  [totalVolume]
    type = InternalVolume
    boundary = all
  []
[]

[Outputs]
  exodus = true
[]

(examples/plate_fuel/plate_fuel_hypre.i)

#
# Plate fuel example problem.
#

[GlobalParams]
  order = FIRST
  family = LAGRANGE
  displacements = 'disp_x disp_y disp_z'
  volumetric_locking_correction = false
[]

[Mesh]
  coord_type = XYZ
  [plate]
    type = PlateMeshGenerator
    fuel_dimensions = '82.550e-3 19.050e-3 0.216e-3'
    liner_thickness = 0.025e-3
    cladding_thicknesses = '9.4615e-3 9.4615e-3 3.175e-3 3.175e-3 0.489e-3 0.489e-3'
    number_fuel_elements = '25 15 3'
    number_cladding_elements = '4 4 3 3 4 4'
    ### For a more refined mesh (40 processors):
    # number_fuel_elements = '108 30 5'
    # number_cladding_elements = '15 15 5 5 8 8'
    ###
    number_liner_elements = 1
  []
  [translate_to_origin]
    type = TransformGenerator
    input = plate
    transform = translate_min_origin
  []
  [add_nodesets]
    type = ExtraNodesetGenerator
    input = translate_to_origin
    coord = '0 0 0; 0.101473 0 0; 0.101473 0.0254 0'
    new_boundary = 'left_bottom_back right_bottom_back right_top_back'
  []
[]

[Problem]
  type = ReferenceResidualProblem
  reference_vector = ref
  extra_tag_vectors = ref
  group_variables = 'disp_x disp_y disp_z'
[]

[Functions]
  [fission_density_fcn] # fis/m3
    type = PiecewiseLinear
    data_file = 'average_fission_density.csv'
    scale_factor = 1e27
    format = columns
  []
  [fluence_fcn] # n/m2
    type = PiecewiseLinear
    data_file = 'FLUENCE.csv'
    scale_factor = 1
    format = columns
  []
  [power_density]
    type = PiecewiseLinear
    data_file = 'POWER_DENSITY.csv' # W/cm3 to W/m3
    scale_factor = 1e6
    format = columns
  []
  [L2AR]
    type = ParsedFunction
    # fissprof_l2ar is the distribution from the L2AR tab: L2AR_ABAQUS at cell R64
    symbol_names = 'x_offset y_offset'
    symbol_values = '9.4615e-3 3.175e-3'
    expression = 'x0 := x-x_offset;
             y0 := y-y_offset;
             (4.669e-10*x0^5 - 8.657e-8*x0^4 + 5.877e-6*x0^3 - 0.0001962*x0^2 + 0.004373*x0 + 0.9446) * (5.047e-7*y0^6 - 2.974e-05*y0^5 + 0.0006881*y0^4 - 0.007883*y0^3 + 0.04726*y0^2 - 0.1458*y0 + 1.152)'
  []
  [power_history]
    type = CompositeFunction
    functions = 'power_density L2AR'
  []
[]

[Variables]
  [temperature]
    initial_condition = 294
  []
  [disp_x]
  []
  [disp_y]
  []
  [disp_z]
  []
[]

[Kernels]
  [heat]
    type = HeatConduction
    variable = temperature
  []
  [heat_ie]
    type = HeatConductionTimeDerivative
    variable = temperature
  []
  [heat_source]
    type = HeatSource
    block = fuel
    function = power_history
    variable = temperature
    extra_vector_tags = 'ref'
  []
[]

[Physics/SolidMechanics/QuasiStatic]
  strain = FINITE
  temperature = temperature
  generate_output = 'stress_xx stress_yy stress_zz vonmises_stress
                     hydrostatic_stress elastic_strain_xx elastic_strain_yy
                     elastic_strain_zz strain_xx strain_yy strain_zz'
  [fuel_mechanics]
    block = fuel
    eigenstrain_names = 'fuel_thermal_strain'
    extra_vector_tags = 'ref'
  []
  [clad_mechanics]
    block = cladding
    eigenstrain_names = 'clad_thermal_strain'
    extra_vector_tags = ref
  []
  [liner_mechanics]
    block = liner
    eigenstrain_names = 'liner_thermal_strain'
    extra_vector_tags = ref
  []
[]

[BCs]
  [conv_BC_front]
    type = ConvectiveHeatFluxBC
    variable = temperature
    boundary = front
    T_infinity = 'tfilm_outer' # film temperature
    heat_transfer_coefficient = 'htc_outer'
    heat_transfer_coefficient_dT = 'dhtc_dT_outer'
  []
  [conv_BC_back]
    type = ConvectiveHeatFluxBC
    variable = temperature
    boundary = back
    T_infinity = 'tfilm_inner' # film temperature
    heat_transfer_coefficient = 'htc_inner'
    heat_transfer_coefficient_dT = 'dhtc_dT_inner'
  []
  [disp_x]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = disp_x
    boundary = 'left_bottom_back'
    value = 0.0
  []
  [disp_y]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = disp_y
    boundary = 'left_bottom_back right_bottom_back'
    value = 0.0
  []
  [disp_z]
    type = DirichletBC
    variable = disp_z
    boundary = 'left_bottom_back right_bottom_back right_top_back'
    value = 0.0
  []
[]

[Materials]
  [fission_density]
    type = GenericFunctionMaterial
    prop_names = fission_density
    prop_values = fission_density_fcn
  []
  [fluence]
    type = GenericFunctionMaterial
    prop_names = fast_neutron_fluence
    prop_values = fluence_fcn
    outputs = all
  []
  [tfilm_inner]
    type = ParsedMaterial
    property_name = tfilm_inner
    coupled_variables = temperature
    expression = '325.15'
  []
  [htc_inner]
    type = ParsedMaterial
    property_name = htc_inner
    coupled_variables = 'temperature'
    expression = '-3.3647*temperature^2 + 2744.5*temperature - 454016.0'
  []
  [dhtc_dT_inner]
    type = ParsedMaterial
    property_name = dhtc_dT_inner
    coupled_variables = 'temperature'
    expression = '-6.7294*temperature + 2744.5'
  []
  [tfilm_outer]
    type = ParsedMaterial
    property_name = tfilm_outer
    coupled_variables = temperature
    expression = '325.15'
  []
  [htc_outer]
    type = ParsedMaterial
    property_name = htc_outer
    coupled_variables = 'temperature'
    expression = '-2.8992*temperature^2 + 2354.8*temperature - 387945.0'
  []
  [dhtc_dT_outer]
    type = ParsedMaterial
    property_name = dhtc_dT_outer
    coupled_variables = 'temperature'
    expression = '-5.7984*temperature + 2354.8'
  []
  # fuel properties
  [fuel_thermal]
    type = U10MoThermal
    block = fuel
    temperature = temperature
    thermal_conductivity_model = USHPRR
    specific_heat_model = USHPRR
  []
  [fuel_elasticity]
    type = U10MoElasticityTensor
    block = fuel
    temperature = temperature
  []
  [fuel_thermal_expansion]
    type = U10MoThermalExpansionEigenstrain
    block = fuel
    temperature = temperature
    eigenstrain_name = fuel_thermal_strain
    stress_free_temperature = 298
    model_option = Rest
  []
  [fuel_stress]
    type = ComputeFiniteStrainElasticStress
    block = fuel
  []
  #  [fuel_swelling]
  #    type = U10MoVolumetricSwellingEigenstrain
  #    eigenstrain_name = fuel_swelling_strain
  #    fission_rate = 0
  #  []
  [fuel_density]
    type = ParsedMaterial
    block = fuel
    property_name = density
    coupled_variables = 'temperature'
    expression = '-0.884*temperature + 17391.0'
    outputs = exodus
  []
  # liner properties
  [liner_thermal]
    type = ZrThermal
    block = liner
    temperature = temperature
    thermal_conductivity_model = USHPRR
    specific_heat_model = USHPRR
  []
  [liner_elasticity]
    type = ZrElasticityTensor
    block = liner
    temperature = temperature
  []
  [liner_stress]
    type = ComputeFiniteStrainElasticStress
    block = liner
  []
  [liner_thermal_expansion]
    type = ZrThermalExpansionEigenstrain
    block = liner
    temperature = temperature
    eigenstrain_name = liner_thermal_strain
    stress_free_temperature = 293.0
    model_option = ASM
  []
  [liner_density]
    type = StrainAdjustedDensity
    block = liner
    strain_free_density = 6499.0 # 6.499e-9 ton/mm3
    outputs = exodus
  []
  # cladding properties
  [clad_thermal]
    type = Al6061Thermal
    temperature = temperature
    block = cladding
    thermal_conductivity_model = T6
    specific_heat_model = ASM
  []
  [clad_elasticity]
    type = Al6061ElasticityTensor
    block = cladding
    temperature = temperature
    fast_neutron_fluence = 0
    youngs_modulus_model = Kaufman
  []
  [clad_thermal_expansion]
    type = Al6061ThermalExpansionEigenstrain
    stress_free_temperature = 293.15
    temperature = temperature
    eigenstrain_name = clad_thermal_strain
    block = cladding
  []
  [clad_stress]
    type = ComputeFiniteStrainElasticStress
    block = cladding
  []
  [clad_density]
    type = ParsedMaterial
    block = cladding
    property_name = density
    coupled_variables = 'temperature'
    expression = '-0.0003*temperature^2 + 0.0966*temperature + 2690.4'
    outputs = exodus
  []
[]

[Preconditioning]
  [smp]
    type = SMP
    full = true
  []
[]

[Executioner]
  type = Transient
  solve_type = 'Newton'

  petsc_options_iname = '-ksp_gmres_restart -pc_type -pc_hypre_type -pc_hypre_boomeramg_max_iter'
  petsc_options_value = '201                hypre    boomeramg      4'
  #petsc_options_iname = '-pc_type -pc_factor_mat_solver_package'
  #petsc_options_value = 'lu superlu_dist'

  line_search = 'none'

  nl_rel_tol = 1e-6
  nl_abs_tol = 1e-8
  nl_max_its = 50

  l_tol = 1e-4
  l_max_its = 50

  start_time = 0.0
  end_time = 4586400
  num_steps = 2500

  dtmax = 86400

  [Predictor]
    type = SimplePredictor
    scale = 1
  []

  [TimeStepper]
    type = IterationAdaptiveDT
    dt = 1800
    optimal_iterations = 12
    iteration_window = 2
    growth_factor = 2
    cutback_factor = .5
    timestep_limiting_function = power_density
    force_step_every_function_point = true
  []
[]

[Postprocessors]
  [average_fuel_T]
    type = ElementAverageValue
    block = fuel
    variable = temperature
    execute_on = 'initial timestep_end'
  []
  [fuelVolume]
    type = InternalVolume
    boundary = fuel_all
  []
  [totalVolume]
    type = InternalVolume
    boundary = all
  []
  [power_history]
    type = FunctionValuePostprocessor
    function = power_history
    execute_on = 'initial timestep_end'
  []
[]

[Outputs]
  perf_graph = true
  csv = true
  exodus = true
[]

Description
Input Parameters
Input Files