Application of new developments in coupled seismic analysis of piping systems

The current practice of calculating the seismic response is to perform the analysis of the primary structure (buildings) and the secondary systems (piping) separately. Earthquake input to the primary system in terms of a design response spectrum. An acceleration time history compatible with the design response spectrum is developed (a non-unique process) and primary system is analyzed to obtain the acceleration histories at the desired floors. Floor time histories are used for generating the corresponding instructure response spectrum (IRIS). The instructure response spectra are used as input at the supports of secondary systems. Further, in case of multiple supports, an envelope spectrum (introducing conservatism) is obtained from the individual support IRS. The effect of relative support motion is incorporated by a worst-case separate static analysis (adding to the conservatism). In the above method, mass interaction between the secondary and primary system is ignored, which may have significant effect at resonant frequencies (further adding to the conservatism). The calculated response may be an order of magnitude higher than they should be. Two computer programs, CREST and CREST-IRIS, were developed at Center for NUclear Power Plant Structures, Equipment and Piping. Any one of the two computer programs together with a piping analysis program can be used to perform an accurate coupled seismic analysis of piping systems. The two computer programs have been validated against the time history analysis for simple problems. In the present study, we have applied CREST to analyze two real-life piping systems. The piping analysis program used in this research is the commercial software PIPESTRESS, developed by DST Computer Services of Geneva, Switzerland. (author). 4 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs