Recommended piping seismic-adequacy criteria based on performance during and after earthquakes: Volume 1, Summary document: Final report
The objective of this study is to develop seismic adequacy criteria for the visual identification of any features of aboveground welded steel safety-related piping systems in nuclear plants which could cause loss of function in an earthquake with a free-field ground surface acceleration of up to 0.5g. The criteria were developed by (1) collecting and assessing detailed data on the performance of piping at selected power and industrial facilities during past earthquakes and by (2) performing and evaluating a worldwide survey of earthquake-induced damage to and failure of piping over the past sixty years. Welded steel piping has exhibited superior performance in past earthquakes, even though it is rarely designed to resist earthquakes and is typically designed to resist only normal gravity and pressure loads. Seismic adequacy criteria are developed for the three areas where seismic-induced failure has been observed: seismic anchor movement, interaction and corrosion. It is noteworthy that inertia loads are not known to have caused failure to piping, and thus criteria for inertia loads are not proposed or apparently needed. This finding should be contrasted with the great emphasis placed on seismic design for inertia loads in nuclear plant piping systems. This study presents conclusive evidence that design for inertia effects is over-emphasized on the basis of providing needed additional safety. 12 refs., 12 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- EQE, Inc., San Francisco, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5429890
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-NP-5617-Vol.1; ON: TI88920180
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
SEISMIC EFFECTS
PIPES
DYNAMIC LOADS
FAILURES
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
EARTHQUAKES
INSPECTION
WELDED JOINTS
JOINTS
MANAGEMENT
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POWER PLANTS
SEISMIC EVENTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
220200 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories