IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIONS IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.pdfVIP

18th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology (SMiRT 18) Beijing, China, August 7-12, 2005 SMiRT18-J05-7 IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIONS IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT Prof. Dr. Saeed Ahmad Engineering University, Taxila Hamid Mehmood Directorate of Structural Design Javed Iqbal Siddiqui Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, 1264 Street No. 3, Humak ( Main) Islamabad Pakistan Phone:92-51-9266900,Fax:92-51-9267008 E-mail: jismsc@ Dr. Shoaib Raza Principal Engineer, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission ABSTRACT Structures, systems and components (SSC) that are essential for the safe operation and shutdown of the nuclear power plant may be subject to a variety of loads. Examples of such loads are jet impingement, reactor vessel sub-compartment pressurization, pipe whip restraint reaction and blast pressure. Various United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) Regulatory Guides and Standard Review Plans specify required loads and provide acceptable methods for structural design. The design of concrete structures, subject to impulse and impact loads is governed by the ACI-349 Code. Acceptable analysis techniques vary from simplified quasi-static methods for single degree of freedom systems, to detailed computer analysis techniques accounting for material and geometric non-linearities. The identification of potential for explosions is an ongoing process due to additions, modifications or other changes that are being implemented in operating Nuclear Power Plants. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the various impulsive loads e.g. accidental explosions, intentional explosions, jet impingement, pipe whip restraint action, tornado induced pressure drop. The limitations in the analysis and design procedures used to protect the safety related SSC’s from the effect of these loads have also been investigated. Keywords: explosions; ductility; nuclear power pl