HELB-induced blast wave evaluation based on mock-up tests and numerical analyses

Abstract

Postulated high energy line breaks have been considered as a part of design of nuclear safety-related structures, systems and components for a long time. However, recently, technical controversy was raised over the adequacy in assumption of complex phenomena and assessment of dynamic loads. This study is to address blast wave evaluation under a typical main steam line break condition of 1,400MWe power plant. At first, a mock-up facility was developed and six tests were performed by changing rupture pressures and target distances. Corresponding computational fluid dynamics analyses were also carried out after optimization of numerical model. Finally, pressure – time histories caused by plant specific blast wave were generated in use of a theoretical correlation, which were applied to finite element analyses of neighboring steam generator and containment wall. Integrity assessment results as well as the details of tests and analyses data were provided, and their applicability was discussed.