Biaxial wall element tests of reinforced and prestressed concrete containments with inward radial load on penetrations

This work indicates that under internal overpressurization or other accident conditions, highly localized strains in the steel liner plate can result in liner tearing and subsequent containment leakage. In the prestressed concrete design, liner plate cracks occurred at the ends of anchorage angles. Inward movement of the penetration caused the liner plate to try to tear the anchorage from the concrete. Maximum liner distortion occurred at the junction of the liner with the ends of the anchorage angles. In the reinforced concrete design, the liner plate did not crack as a result of biaxial and inward load on the penetration. Dimples formed in the liner at multiple locations where studs anchored the liner to the concrete. (orig./HP)