SERVICEABILITY DESIGN LOAD FACTORS AND RELIABILITY ASSESSMENTS FOR REINFORCED-CONCRETE CONTAINMENT STRUCTURES

A reinforced concrete nuclear power plant containment structure is sub jected to various random static and stochastic loads during its lifeti me. Since these loads involve inherent randomness and other uncertaint ies, an appropriate probabilistic model for each load must be establis hed in order to perform reliability analysis. The current ASME code fo r reinforced concrete containment structures are not based on probabil ity concepts. The stochastic nature of natural hazard or accidental lo ads and the variations of material properties require a probabilistic approach for a rational assessment of structural safety and performanc e. The paper develops probability-based load factors for the limit sta te design of reinforced concrete containment structures. The purpose o f constructing reinforced concrete containment structure is to protect against radioactive release, and so the use of a serviceability limit state against crack failure that can cause the emission of radioactiv e materials is suggested as a critical limit state for reinforced conc rete containment structures. Load factors for the design of reinforced concrete containment structures are proposed and carried out the reli ability assessments. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserve d.