Abstract: In a method of determining a cell friction metric for a control cell of a nuclear reactor, a channel face fast fluence and/or a channel face controlled operation parameter is determined for all channels. A total bow value is calculated for each channel based on the channel face fast fluence and/or channel face control parameters. For each channel, a channel wall pressure drop parameter is determined, and a total bulge value is calculated for each channel using the channel face fast fluence and channel wall pressure drop parameters. Total deformation at specified channel axial elevations for the cell is determined based on the total bow and bulge values. A control blade axial friction force value is calculated at each axial elevation based on the total deformation, along with channel stiffness and channel-control blade friction coefficient values. A maximum friction value is selected as the cell friction metric for the cell.