Innovative seismic resistant structure of shield building with base isolation and tuned-mass-damping for AP1000 nuclear power plants

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 1238-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gangling Hou ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
Sun Hai ◽  
Tianshu Song ◽  
Lingshu Wu ◽  
...  

Purpose Seismic isolation, as an effective risk mitigation strategy of building/bridge structures, is incorporated into AP1000 nuclear power plants (NPPs) to alleviate the seismic damage that may occur to traditional structures of NPPs during their service. This is to promote the passive safety concept in the structural design of AP1000 NPPs against earthquakes. Design/methodology/approach In conjunction with seismic isolation, tuned-mass-damping (TMD) is integrated into the seismic resistance system of AP1000 NPPs to satisfy the multi-functional purposes. The proposed base-isolation-tuned-mass-damper (BIS-TMD) is studied by comparing the seismic performance of NPPs with four different design configurations (i.e. without BIS, BIS, BIS-TMD and TMD) with the design parameters of the TMD subsystem optimized. Findings Such a new seismic protection system (BIS-TMD) is proved to be promising because the advantages of BIS and TMD can be fully used. The benefits of the new structure include effective energy dissipation (i.e. wide vibration absorption band and a stable damping effect), which results in the high performance of NPPs subject to earthquakes with various intensity levels and spectra features. Originality/value Parametric studies are performed to demonstrate the seismic robustness (e.g. consistent performance against the changing mass of the water in the gravity liquid tank and mechanical properties) which further ensures that seismic safety requirements of NPPs can be satisfied through the use of BIS-TMD.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gangling Hou ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Binsheng Wang ◽  
Tianshu Song ◽  
...  

PurposeAn inter-story isolation structure (IIS) for AP1000 nuclear power plants (NPPs) is provided to resolve the conflict of seismic safety and the optimal location of air intakes.Design/methodology/approachThe effect of passive cooling system (PCS) is better with lower altitude of air intakes than that in the original design of AP1000 NPPs. Seismic performances of IIS NPPs, including the seismic responses, damping frequency bandwidth and seismic reduction robustness, are improved by combining the position of air intakes lower and the optimal design method.FindingsTheoretical analysis and numerical simulation are illustrated that the seismic reduction failure of IIS NPPs is the lowest probability of occurrence when PCS has highest working efficiency.Originality/valueThe IIS NPPs can transfer the contradiction between PCS work efficiency and seismic safety of NPPs to the mutual promotion of them.


Author(s):  
Satoshi Fujita ◽  
Keisuke Minagawa ◽  
Takeshi Kodaira

In Japan, applications of seismic isolation systems to new generation nuclear power plants and fast breeder reactors have been expected in order to enhance seismic safety. However there are lots of restrictions for design of isolation systems, such as strong design seismic wave, deformation of piping between an isolated structure and a non-isolated structure, and so on. In addition combination of horizontal and vertical isolation has possibility to cause rocking motion if a three-dimensional isolation system is applied. Therefore isolation systems should be designed properly. Moreover the design of seismic isolation system has to consider influence on inner equipment and piping. This paper describes investigation regarding required properties and performance of seismic isolation system for nuclear power plants. The investigation is carried out by numerical analysis. In the analysis, various isolation devices such as friction pendulum bearings and so on are applied as well as natural rubber bearings.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 4028
Author(s):  
Sungjin Chang ◽  
Bubgyu Jeon ◽  
Shinyoung Kwag ◽  
Daegi Hahm ◽  
Seunghyun Eem

The interest in the seismic performance of nuclear power plants has increased worldwide since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant incident. In Korea, interest in the seismic safety of nuclear power plants has increased since the earthquake events in Gyeongju (2016) and Pohang (2017). In Korea, studies have been conducted to apply seismic isolation systems to ensure seismic safety while minimizing the design changes to nuclear power plants. Nuclear power plants with seismic isolation systems may have a higher seismic risk due to the failure of the piping system in the structure after a relatively large displacement. Therefore, it is essential to secure the seismic safety of pipes for the safe operation of nuclear power plants. The seismic safety of pipes is determined by seismic fragility analysis. Seismic fragility analysis requires many seismic response analyses because it is a statistical approach to various random variables. Typical numerical conditions affecting the seismic response analysis of pipes are the convergence conditions and mesh size in numerical analysis. This study examined the change in the seismic safety of piping according to the numerical conditions. The difference in the seismic response analysis results of the piping according to the mesh size was analyzed comparatively. In addition, the change in the seismic fragility curve of the piping according to the convergence conditions was investigated.


Author(s):  
Keisuke Minagawa ◽  
Satoshi Fujita ◽  
Seiji Kitamura ◽  
Shigeki Okamura

This paper describes the dynamic strength evaluation of piping installed in nuclear power plants from a viewpoint of energy balance. Mechanical structures installed in nuclear power plants such as piping and equipment are usually designed statically in elastic region. Although these mechanical structures have sufficient seismic safety margin, comprehending the ultimate strength is very important in order to improve the seismic safety reliability in unexpected severe earthquakes. In this study, ultimate strength of a simple single-degree-of-freedom model is investigated from a viewpoint of energy balance equation that is one of valid methods for structural calculation. The investigation is implemented by forced vibration experiment. In the experiment, colored random wave having predominant frequency that is similar to natural frequency of the experimental model is input. Stainless steel and carbon steel are selected as material of experimental model. Excitation is continued until the experimental model is damaged, and is carried out with various input levels. As a result of the experiment, it is confirmed that input energy for failure increase with an increase of time for failure. Additionally it is confirmed that input energy for failure depend on the material.


Author(s):  
Gang Zheng ◽  
Feng Shen ◽  
Yaodong Chen ◽  
Gangling Hou

Without additional mass, the tuned mass damping (TMD) shield building for AP1000 Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) was achieved easily by changing the stiffness and damper between parts of shield building. Meanwhile, the new TMD structure combined the structural features of the shield building with TMD technology. The optimal model for the new structure was built and the optimal stiffness and damper of TMD bearing were given on the dynamic characters of the shield building and its parts. The vibration mitigation mechanism and reduction effect were clearly stated by using base shear force transfer function. By comparing with the seismic responses of the traditional model and the base isolation model, the influence factors of the new TMD structure, such as the mechanism of TMD bearing, the gravity liquid tank mass, and the earthquake waves under different sites were studied. The new TMD structure is tested to satisfy the NPPs seismic safety requirements, stable reduction efficiency, anti-seismic robust characteristics and adaptive site.


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