EPRI research on concrete containment integrity

A series of research projects concerning the integrity of reactor containment buildings under accident loads that may exceed design levels is underway at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The objective of the projects is to provide the utility industry with a test-verified analytical method for making realistic estimates of the actual capacity of reinforced and prestressed concrete containments under internal overpressurization and seismic loads. Initial research is focusing on reinforced and prestressed containment response due to quasi-static overpressurization from large- or small-break LOCA's combined with hydrogen burn. Data from large-scale hydrogen burn testing in other EPRI-sponsored research will help define realistic forcing functions for containment structural response. Efforts may be expanded in subsequent years to include the effects of seismic loads