Simulation of acoustic waves in a fluid contained in a nuclear tank, modeled by a fluid-structure coupling

[Hanna-che]

Simulation of acoustic waves in a fluid contained in a nuclear tank, modeled by a fluid-structure coupling – M1

Student : Hanna CHETOUANE
Academic supervisors : Thomas LEGALL, Christophe PRUD'HOMME
Host institution : Avnir Energy
Internship period : June-August 2025

Context

Nuclear infrastructure is highly sensitive and high-risk, requiring constant safety guarantees. Digital simulation plays an essential role in this field, enabling the analysis of structural behavior and the anticipation of potential risks.

In this context, my internship project involves the implementation of a non-destructive simulation tool designed to generate data that can be used for diagnostic and predictive maintenance applications.

The main objective is to develop a digital tool that can simulate an impact on the wall of a nuclear power plant tank and observe the consequences: the deformation of the solid and the propagation of acoustic waves in the fluid at rest inside the tank.

Methodology

• Tools used: Partial differential equations (PDEs), finite element method (FEM), C++ (object-oriented programming), Feel++, GMSH, Paraview, Github

• Key steps:

  • Implementation of the wave equation
  • Implementation of the elasticity equation
  • Implementation of fluid-structure coupling via fluid pressure and solid velocity (Picard iterative strategy)
  • Simulation of a test case
  • Visualization and validation of results in Paraview

Results

Here is an example of a simulation of an impact on the outer wall (modeled by a Ricker wavelet) of a stainless steel tank filled with water, represented in simplified 2D and 3D geometry.

In the 2D simulation, the fluid is on the left and the solid on the right, and in the 3D simulation, the solid is on the left and the fluid on the right. You can click on the images below to access the full videos.

Useful links

• 📄 Internship report
• 🎤 Presentation