Comparison of experimental and analytic simulation of reactor structural response to a hypothetical core disruptive accident

A series of scale model tests assessing the ability of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor to withstand the loads resulting from a hypothetical core disruptive accident have been performed. Supporting analytic simulation of these tests using the REXCO-HEP code were also performed. Comparison of the analytic and experimental results are described in this paper. As a general conclusion, the analytically predicted loads on the coolant boundary and resulting structural deformations were greater than the corresponding experimental loads and deformations. (orig.)