Probabilistic Seismic Analysis of a Nuclear Power Plant Steel Containment

by Fouad Fanous, US DOE, Ames Lab, Ames, IA, USA,
Lowell Greimann, US DOE, Ames Lab, Ames, IA, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Structural Engineering in Nuclear Facilities

Abstract:

Concern for the safety of nuclear power plants has motivated efforts to determine the statistical characteristics of the seismic resistance of steel containments under various types of loading. In this paper, the seismic response is predicted by a random vibration technique calibrated to a design response spectrum. Modal analysis methods are utilized, with the random vibration technique, to obtain a statistical description of the random process stress resultants for a unit g peak ground acceleration. Peak stress resultants are described by Extreme Value I. The mean peak values are input into BOSOR5 computer program and the peak g-level is increased until failure (strain ductility of two) is reached. An approximate product failure function is obtained by perturbing the other random variables, namely, geometric imperfections, damping, and yield strength. The Advanced First Order Second Moment technique is then used to construct the cumulative distribution of the containment seismic resistance as a function of peak ground acceleration. Fragility curves for the containment at 95% and 5% certainty are also given.

Subject Headings: Probability | Power plants | Stress analysis | Seismic tests | Seismic loads | Steel | Nuclear power

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