Stress distribution around the equipment hatch opening of a prestressed concrete containment for a PWR power station

The authors report here the results of a finite element stress analysis for the linear elastic deformation around the equipment hatch opening in a prestressed concrete containment. The dimensions and form of the containment are taken to be representative of current design practice for the primary containment of a PWR power station; however the study is generic. Of particular interest is the response of the containment to beyond design-basis load levels. To this end results are included which involve over-load pressurization together with an approximate treatment of the propagation and stability of cracks in the concrete around the equipment hatch opening