Studies for reactor containment at Narora

The primary reactor containment at Narora has the unusual function of also carrying the heavy boilers (heat exchangers) and providing a flat work surface over the roof. The site being in a seismically active region, certain conflicting requirements in regard to ideal conditions to resist and analyse functional loads and seismic loads have to be reconciled. Alternative schemes are proposed and the stress flow for each major loading case examined and their consequent relative advantages discussed. Problems at the joints and functions are examined and the implications of various arrangements are reviewed. Suggestions to reduce the magnitude of the problems are tentatively proposed. (author)