Research of the Stress-Strain State for Steel Support Structures of Nuclear Power Plant Components under Seismic Loads

Abstract

Seismic resistance of equipment and piping of nuclear power plant units is determined, particularly, by seismic resistance of their steel support structures. A significant number of these structures are located in the reactor building of nuclear power plants and belong to seismic resistance categories I and II. Therefore, such support structures of nuclear power plant equipment and piping, in general, shall perform their functions under seismic hazards that correspond to the safe shutdown earthquake and design-basis earthquakes, respectively.
 Steel support structures of serial equipment (piping valves, electric and pneumatic drives of piping and pump valves, expansion tanks, etc.) are often designed “on site” in the limited conditions of their actual location. Therefore, it is necessary to design steel support structures of a number of equipment taking into account the fact that it can be connected, in particular, to existing piping with their actual routing. In connection with the above, the research of operation for such support structures under seismic loads is relevant.
 The article presents the research results for the spectrum of natural oscillation frequencies of the equipment support structure, and the stress-strain state of the considered structure under seismic loads is determined. At the same time, the parameters during normal operation and maximum design basis accident at the nuclear power plant power unit are considered. The calculated combination of loads, which simultaneously includes two episodic impacts (maximum design basis accident and an earthquake) is considered.