Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Seismic damping factors of small bore piping as influenced by insulation and support elements

Conference · · Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., Pressure Vessels Piping Div., (Tech. Rep.) PVP; (United States)
OSTI ID:5453916

Seismic damping tests of a prototypical Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) small bore piping system is described, and measured transient responses to pulse excitations are reported. The test specimen was representative of a typical LMFBR insulated small bore piping system, and it was supported from a rigid test frame by prototypic dead weight supports, mechanical snubbers, and pipe clamps. Various support configurations were tested to assess the response sensitivity to insulation and other nonlinear support characteristics. Damping factors increased significantly due to the insulation and use of mechanical snubbers. Factors much higher than the magnitudes currently allowed in design, by the USNRC Regulatory Guide 1.61, were found. This verified the design values but also pointed out the possibility of undue conservatism and costly overdesign resulting from use of the present design values.

Research Organization:
Westinghouse Hanford Company, Richland, WA
OSTI ID:
5453916
Report Number(s):
CONF-830607-
Journal Information:
Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., Pressure Vessels Piping Div., (Tech. Rep.) PVP; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., Pressure Vessels Piping Div., (Tech. Rep.) PVP; (United States) Vol. PVP-VOL. 74; ISSN AMPPD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English