Development and application of a comprehensive framework for assessing alternative approaches to snubber reduction

The seismic design criteria for nuclear power plant piping systems specified by the U.S. NRC are generally thought to be extremely conservative. Consequently, the number of snubbers required at a typical nuclear power plant in the U.S. is extremely large and there is much industry interest in snubber reduction. This paper presents a decision model for balancing the competing concerns of seismic safety, thermal stress fatigue, and plant operating costs. The model takes into account information on the seismic margins of contemporary nuclear power plant piping systems as a basis for estimating the potential for snubber reduction. (orig./HSCH)