Ultimate analysis of BWR Mark III reinforced concrete containment subjected to internal pressure

Numerical analyses are carried out by using the ABAQUS finite element progr am to predict the ultimate pressure capacity and the failure mode of the BW R Mark III reinforced concrete containment at Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant? Taiwan, R.O.C. Material nonlinearity such as concrete cracking, tension st iffening, shear retention, concrete plasticity, yielding of reinforcing ste el, yielding of liner plate and degradation of material properties as a res ult of high temperature effects are all simulated with proper constitutive models. Geometric nonlinearity as a result of finite deformation has also b een considered. The results of the analysis show that when the reinforced c oncrete containment fails, extensive cracks take place at the apex of the d ome, the intersection of the dome and the cylinder and the lower part of cy linder where there is a discontinuity in the thickness of the containment. In addition, the ultimate pressure capacity of the containment is 23.9 psi and is about 59% higher than the design pressure 15 psi. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.