Abstract
The response of nuclear power plants (NPPs) to seismic events is affected by soil-structure interactions (SSI). In the present paper, a finite element (FE) model with transmitting boundaries is used to analyse the SSI effect on the response of NPP buildings subjected to vertically incident seismic excitation. Analysis parameters that affect the accuracy of the calculations, including the dimension of the domain and artificial boundary types, are investigated through a set of models. A numerical SSI analysis for the 10 MW High Temperature Gas Cooled Test Reactor (HTR-10) under seismic excitation was carried out using the developed model. The floor response spectra (FRS) produced by the SSI analysis are compared with a fixed-base model to investigate the SSI effect on the dynamic response of the reactor building. The results show that the FRS at foundation level are reduced and those at higher floor levels are altered significantly when taking SSI into account. The peak frequencies of the FRS are reduced due to the SSI, whereas the acceleration at high floor levels is increased at a certain frequency range. The seismic response of the primary system components, however, is reduced by the analysed SSI for the HTR-10 on the current soil site.
Highlights
The structural integrity of nuclear power plants (NPPs) built on medium or soft soil sites during an earthquake has been a focus of research in recent years [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
Three-dimensional finite element (FE) models composed of upper structure and subsurface soil with transmitting boundaries were solved in the frequency domain to determine the frequency response function of an NPP under vertically incident seismic excitation
Several recommendations are provided for the SoilStructure Interactions (SSI) analysis of NPP subjected to horizontal earthquake ground motion
Summary
The structural integrity of nuclear power plants (NPPs) built on medium or soft soil sites during an earthquake has been a focus of research in recent years [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. SoilStructure Interactions (SSI) may greatly amplify the seismic response of the NPP’s reactor building and increase the safety requirements [1, 2, 8]. Given their inherent safety features such as meltdown-proof safety, negative temperature reactivity coefficients, and passive decay heat removal [9, 10], High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors (HTGRs) present advantages for construction on various soil sites when compared to Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). The seismic design of safety related nuclear structures and facilities on soil sites is built upon SSI analysis. A more comprehensive SSI analysis will enhance the understanding of the dynamic response of the reactor building in seismic events
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
