Structural integrity assessment of reactor cavities and containment following steam explosion

Abstract

Nuclear power is a major source of electricity production in the international community, but recently, due to serious nuclear accidents, a large amount of radiation leakage has caused a lot of damage. Since then, research on nuclear safety has been conducted around the world. Generally, nuclear severe accidents have been continuously increased in temperature due to the disruption of cooling water supply in nuclear reactor. According to the cooling water disruption, the core melt is generated. And the core melt is arranged to reactor in the lower head. If continuous heat accumulates, it is exposed melt through the lower head to the reactor, and a steam explosion occurs by Fuel Coolant Interaction (FCI). In this study, the structural integrity of reactor cavities and containment buildings was evaluated by the steam explosion through FCI. Steam pressure was obtained through the TEXAX V code, and the reactor cavity and containment building consisted of a reinforced concrete structure and liner plate based on the APR-1400.