Mechanical interactions of UIS support columns

Code development involving above-core structures (ACS) has recently focused on modeling the complexities of mechanical interactions in the ACS support columns which play a very important role in their behavior. These developments are directed toward two considerations: (1) the prediction of the forces exerted by the column in a hypothetical core-disruptive accident (HCDA) in order that the motion of the ACS can be predicted in a coupled fluid-structure analysis, (2) the calculation of the strains and deformations of the support columns so that situations which lead to complete failure can be identified. Finite element capabilities have been developed to handle various types of plant design for the analysis of coupled hydrodynamics and structural response. Beam elements, which previously represented the support columns were able to account for geometric nonlinearities and material nonlinearities, however, changes in the column cross section were not treated. Therefore, one of the aims of this study was to examine the effect of the change in cross section on the behavior of the support columns. A second effect which has been studied is the behavior of support columns consisting of two concentric cylinders