A methodology for assessment of nuclear power plant seismic margin

Technical Report · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5371976

Reed, J W ^[1]; Kennedy, R P ^[2]; Buttemer, D R ^[3]; Idriss, I M ^[4]; Moore, D P; Barr, T; Wooten, K D; Smith, J E ^[5]

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1. Benjamin (J.R.) and Associates, Inc., Mountain View, CA (United States)
2. Structural Mechanics Consulting, Inc., Yorba Linda, CA (United States)
3. Pickard, Lowe and Garrick, Inc., Newport Beach, CA (United States)
4. California Univ., Davis, CA (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
5. South

EPRI's seismic margin methodology enables utility engineers to quantify a nuclear power plant's ability to withstand an earthquake greater than design and still safety shut down for a least 72 hours. This cost-effective, practical methodology used generic screening of systems and component seismic reggedness and does not require probabilistic calculations. The revision adds depth, detail, and more complete procedures to the original report but does not change the basic method. The seismic margin methodology enables engineers to choose a functional success path and several alternatives to shut down the plant and to identify the subset of plant structures and components associated with the path selected. The methodology further provides guidelines for screening the seismic ruggedness of subset components and structures. Components that satisfy screening criteria require no further evaluation. Remaining components require deterministic evaluations using in-structure motions calculated for the earthquake being assessed. The seismic margin earthquake (SME) is chosen to be sufficiently larger than the SSE to establish a significant seismic margin. Methodology procedures determine the weakest link components and establish the HCLPF level of ground moton for which the plant can safely shut down. Plant walkdowns ensure component compliance with screening guideline conditions. The revision gives detailed methods for calculating HCLPF values for an extensive variety of components.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Benjamin (J.R.) and Associates, Inc., Mountain View, CA (United States); Structural Mechanics Consulting, Inc., Yorba Linda, CA (United States); Pickard, Lowe and Garrick, Inc., Newport Beach, CA (United States); California Univ., Davis, CA (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering; Southern Co. Services, Inc., Birmingham, AL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5371976
• Report Number(s): EPRI-NP-6041-M-Rev.1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
REACTOR SHUTDOWN
SEISMIC EFFECTS
ANCHORS
DYNAMIC LOADS
EARTHQUAKES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ENGINEERING
GROUND MOTION
LIMITING VALUES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
PRIMARY COOLANT CIRCUITS
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SOIL-STRUCTURE INTERACTIONS
VALVES
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FUNCTIONS
MOTION
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POWER PLANTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
SEISMIC EVENTS
SHUTDOWN
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
220200 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories