Dynamic response of generation III+ integral nuclear island structure considering fluid structure interaction effects

Abstract

AP1000 has two key components of water storage tank and air intakes for cooling down the temperature of containment vessel when an accident happened. The fluid–structure effects of different water levels and locations of air intakes may affect the dynamical response and stress distribution of integral structure of nuclear island. In the present study, three elevations of air intake with height of 62.23, 57.23 and 52.23 m and four cases of water levels with 0%, 40%, 60% and 80% water are designed to investigate the effect of dynamic response and structural damage for integral structure of nuclear island. The numerical results indicate that the dynamical response and the stress at lower location of air intake are less than the upper location. The case of water level 3 with air intake C is the optimal scheme for AP1000 nuclear island. In addition, some consolidated measures should be taken for the corner of air intake, and the original design of air intake around the upper corner of shield building may not be the optimal arrangement.