Analysis of the mock-up of a reactor containment building: Comparison with experimental results

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design Vol. 359; p. 110454
• Main Authors: Jiménez, S., Cornejo, A., Barbu, L.G., Oller, S., Barbat, A.H.
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.04.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aging; Algorithms; Buttresses; Composites; Computer simulation; Constitutive models; Containment; Càlcul d'estructures; Enginyeria civil; Finite element method; Materials i estructures; Mathematical models; Nuclear reactor containment; Nuclear reactors; Post-tensioned concrete; Prestressing; Reactor containment building; Reactors; Reactors nuclears; Reinforcing steels; Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures; Tendons; Three dimensional models; Viscoelasticity; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC; Finite element method; Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures; Viscoelasticity; Composites; Reactor containment building; Post-tensioned concrete
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2019.110454

•Mechanical behaviour of the containment during the pressurization tests.•Predictive analysis and results comparison in the VeRCoRs project framework.•Reactor containment building study by means of the Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures.•Experimental and simulation values for strains show a good agreement.•Rheology in the tendon system for a 40-year study. The results of a predictive analysis of the mock-up of a reactor containment building, based on computer numerical simulation, are presented in this paper and compared with the results obtained in the context of the VeRCoRs project during the 2015–2018 experimental campaign. The analysis is based on the Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures theory applied on a three-dimensional finite element model of the building. All the singular parts of the structure (two buttresses, the main penetrations, the gusset, etc.) and the complete prestressing tendons system are included in the structural model. The non-linear constitutive models used to describe the behaviour of the concrete, reinforcing steel and the tendons are formulated. A description of the Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures algorithm is also given. The structural response computed for the successive pressure tests applied on the mock-up are compared with the monitored structural behaviour. Finally, results for a simulation considering the aging of the tendon system during 40 years are shown and discussed.