Settlement of a Reactor Containment on Sand

by William O. Martin, Stone & Webster Engineering, Corp, Boston, MA, USA,
Janice W. McCoy, Stone & Webster Engineering, Corp, Boston, MA, USA,
Donald D. Hunt, Stone & Webster Engineering, Corp, Boston, MA, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Settlement of Shallow Foundations on Cohesionless Soils: Design and Performance

Abstract:

In this paper, predicted and observed settlements are presented for the reactor containment structure of the Beaver Valley Power Station - Unit 2, Shippingport, Pennsylvania. The Beaver Valley Unit 2 containment is underlain by approximately 60 ft of sand and gravel overlying bedrock. Elastic theory was used to predict settlement of the containment structure. The compressibility of the sand and gravel was predicted using a constrained modulus estimated from seismic wave velocities and the Hardin and Black equation. The moduli were then adjusted for strain level and the stress conditions that would apply during construction. The observed perimeter settlement of the containment structure upon application of full structural load is slightly greater than the predicted elastic settlement. Possible reasons for the difference are discussed.

Subject Headings: Soil settlement | Structural settlement | Power plants | Soil compression | Gravels | Soil stress | Soil analysis | Pennsylvania | United States

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