Three-dimensional transient sealing analysis of the bolted flange connections of reactor pressure vessel

Abstract

The failure of sealing system of the bolt flange connections is the primary failure mode of the nuclear reactor pressure vessel (RPV). For the safety and integrity of RPV, it is important to predict the sealing behaviour of the bolt flange connections under various loading conditions. Based on the finite element (FE) method for coupled thermal elastoplastic contact problems, a three-dimensional (3D) transient sealing analysis program of nuclear reactor pressure vessels is developed with the consideration of the non-linearity from both surface and material, transient heat transfer and multiple coupled effects. A contact correction approach is proposed to simulate the loading of the bolt connection under the condition of pre-stressing. An automatic pre-processing program is developed for FE modelling of RPVs. Using these programs, a 1:4 scaled model of a 300 MW RPV is analyzed under the loading conditions including pre-stressing, pressurization, heating and cooling. The computational results obtained are in a good agreement with the data of experimental tests. These programs are also successfully used in analyzing the full-scale model of the RPV in a nuclear power plant.