Statistical approach of performance-based uncertainty quantification of prestressed concrete containment structures for internal pressure capacity

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design Vol. 414; p. 112654
• Main Authors: Ju, Bu-Seog, Son, Hoyoung, Kwag, Shinyoung, Lee, Sangwoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2023
• Subjects: Closed-form equation; Concrete damage plasticity model; Internal pressure capacity; Prestressed concrete containment structures; Uncertainty quantification; Uncertainty quantification; Concrete damage plasticity model; Closed-form equation; Prestressed concrete containment structures; Internal pressure capacity
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2023.112654

•The 3D FE model is developed and validated from an experimental data.•Three different limit-states of the structures is defined based on the experimental observation.•The uncertainty in the response of the structures quantified using numerical analysis and closed-form equation.•The closed-form equation is capable of updating the uncertainty in the response without additional computational cost. With several experiences on economic losses and environmental impacts caused by serious accidents, the ultimate internal pressure and failure modes of Prestressed Concrete Containment Structures (PCCSs) during severe accidents have gained greater attention. Regulatory Guide allows the use of a 3D Finite Element (FE) model to determine the containment internal pressure capacity, because the experiments of PCCSs are a very cost and time-consuming process. In this study, an FE model of PCCS tested at Sandia National Laboratories is developed to identify an effect of parameters in the Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model on the response of the PCCS and is validated from the experimental data. In addition, a closed-form equation is developed to predict the responses of the PCCS through a regression analysis in conjunction with the validated FE model and performance-based uncertainty quantification of the PCCS is estimated by numerical analysis and the closed-form equation. The developed closed-form equation achieves high accuracy of 98% and the probabilistic characteristic of the PCCS obtained from the equation well represents the one obtained from the validated FE model. The closed-form equation rarely requires computational cost to investigate the probabilistic responses of the PCCS.