Simulation of Behaviors of a One-Third Scale Containment Model Test

Reactor containment of a nuclear power plant is a structure to ensure the safety of nuclear power plant. It acts as the last barrier to prevent the release of radioactive materials from NPP during accidents. Finite element models were established to simulate a 1/3 scale model of a reactor containment building under leakage test pressure. General finite element software ANSYS were applied. The nonlinear behavior of containment materials, geometric were taken into account in the analysis. The reliability of the finite element model was verified through the comparison of theoretical analysis results with experimental results. In the ANSYS finite element model, the concrete, steel bars and prestress tendons were separated and the prestress tendons were considered by the method of cooling method on the prestress tendon elements. The mechanical properties of the finite element model in the prestress tension process and the absolute internal pressure of 0.52MPa were analyzed. Transient and time dependent losses were taken into account at the same time during the calculation of prestress of tendons, so as to calculate effective prestress at different locations of tendons. Calculation results of prestress losses show that the prestress losses at the hole of equipment hatch are larger than the other areas. The results show that, the deformation of over-all structure of the containment is shrink inward under the action of prestress. And the simulation can achieve the consistent deformation effect between tendons and concrete. The maximum radial displacement of the whole containment structure is located at of 10 ° ∼ 20 °area on the right of the hole of the gate. The effect of expansion deformation of the containment caused by design internal pressure is insufficient to offset the inward shrink effect generated by tendons, and the over-all structure of the concrete containment scale model is mainly under compressive stress. The containment test model is still with a large safety margin under the action of design internal pressure. The largest tensile stress is on the up and down areas of the internal sides of the equipment hatch, dome area close to ring beam, and bottom of perimeter wall close to the base slab. There is possibility of cracking on the concrete in limited local zones. This benchmark can provide a reference for engineering design of containment.