Structural failure analysis of reactor vessels
Maintaining structural integrity of the reactor vessel during a postulated core melt accident is an important safety consideration in the design of the vessel. This study addresses the failure predictions of the vessel due to thermal and pressure loadings from the molten core debris depositing on the lower head of the vessel. Different loading combinations were considered based on a wet or dry cavity and pressurization of the vessel based on operating pressure or atmospheric (pipe break). The analyses considered both short term (minutes) and long term (days) failure modes after the core has melted. Short term failure modes include creep at elevated temperatures and plastic instabilities of the structure. Long term failure modes are caused by creep rupture that lead to plastic instability of the structure. Based on these studies, the analyses predict the reactor vessel examined will remain intact after the core melt has deposited on the lower vessel head.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 10115604
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/CP--75512; CONF-920631--48; ON: DE93005324
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Nonlinear response of vessel walls due to short-time thermomechanical loading
TMI-2 lower head creep rupture analysis