Innovative Probabilistic Vulnerability Investigation of Nuclear Power Plant Structures under Far-Field Ground Motion

Abstract

A structure's seismic fragility is the conditional collapse damage for a given seismic hazard level. This study established an earthquake level acceptable for the seismic performance and damage evaluations of a nuclear power plant's (NPP) reactor containment structure (RCS) in Surat, India. The RCS model's nonlinear studies were conducted using the finite element method (FEM). A series of nonlinear time-history simulations were also applied to observe the top of the RCS dome. Probabilistic seismic demand models for each intensity measure (IM) of RCS were constructed (IM). This study summarises several guidelines and techniques related to the damage analysis of nuclear facilities. The linear regression method uses incremental dynamic analysis results to produce the fragility curve. The analytical studies concluded that the nuclear reactor has a 50 per cent chance of slightly collapsing at 0.87g of RCS.