Analysis of earthquake loads on piping systems using time dependent finite-element analysis

Due to their high heat absorption generators of nuclear power plants can be cooled by gaseous hydrogen. In the frame of mastering hydrogen releases as a consequence of an earthquake it has to be ensured that no leakages develop at the generator that could cause to inadmissible damage in the turbine hall. The presented contribution deals with an analysis of the turbine hall of a nuclear power plant including the piping system using time dependent nonlinear-finite-element methods. The mechanical loads on the piping system were calculated the necessary retrofitting measures were identified. Due to the complex nonlinear boundary conditions for the building structure under seismic impact an analytical solution approach was available, but in view of the profitability and the high safety requirements in nuclear engineering hardly feasible. For a realistic simulation of the kinematic and dynamic behavior of the modeled structure including the determination of mechanical loads within the structures the use of time dependent non-linear FEM has been beneficial.