A SIMPLER APPROACH FOR PREDICTING LWR VESSEL FAILURE DURING SEVERE ACCIDENT CONDITIONS

Using closed-form solution techniques, models were developed for asses sing the thermal and structural response of light water reactor (LWR) vessels and penetrations during severe accident conditions. Results fr om models are displayed as failure maps, generally developed in terms of non-dimensional groups, so that a broader range of reactor design p arameters and severe accident conditions can be considered. In this pa per, failure maps are used to compare LWR vessel response to three acc ident conditions. Results discussed within this paper illustrate the i mportance of vessel and tube geometrical parameters and material prope rties for predicting which vessel failure mode occurs first.