ANALYSIS OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE CONTAINMENT VESSEL (PCCV) UNDER SEVERE ACCIDENT LOADING

Abstract

This paper describes the nonlinear analyses of a 1:4 scale model of a prestressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV) using an axisymmetric model and a three-dimensional model. These two models are refined by comparison of the analysis results and with testing results. This paper is especially focused on the analysis of behavior under pressure and the temperature effects revealed using an axisymmetric model. The temperature-dependent degradation properties of concrete and steel are considered. Both geometric and material nonlinearities, including thermal effects, are also addressed in the analyses. The Menetrey and Willam (1995) concrete constitutive model with non-associated flow potential is adopted for this study. This study includes the results of the predicted thermal and mechanical behaviors of the PCCV subject to high temperature loading and internal pressure at the same time. To find the effect of high temperature accident conditions on the ultimate capacity of the liner plate, reinforcement, prestressing tendon and concrete, two kinds of analyses are performed: one for pressure only and the other for pressure with temperature. The results from the test on pressurization, analysis for pressure only, and analyses considering pressure with temperatures are compared with one another. The analysis results show that the temperature directly affects the behavior of the liner plate, but has little impact on the ultimate pressure capacity of the PCCV.