Dynamic analysis of steel-concrete structure of TVO power plant containment building

The report presents results from a study concerning the ability of the containment to withstand the loads caused by steams explosions which are possible during a severe accident at TVO plant (BWR). In the first phase, the suitability of the engineering mechanics code (FLAC) for modelling the dynamic response of damaging steel-concrete structures was tested by post-calculating a small scale test. As a result, a new dynamic material model taking account the fracture orientation was developed. In containment calculations both the developed and the best generally accepted material model were used. The loads against the containment were obtained from a simple model for steam explosions, which allowed the impulse of the pressure load to be fixed by tuning a few parameters. The ability of the containment to withstand the pressure pulses was analysed with loads of 5, 1 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 kPa s impulse. As a results, the area and magnitude of permanent damage together with time histories of displacement and stress at critical points are presented. The estimations on the consequences of the observed structural damages as far as the containment leak tightness and stability are concerned and presented as conclusions. (9 refs.)