Comparison of experimental and analytic responses of scaled LMFBR heads under simulated hypothetical core disruptive accident loads

A series of scale model tests assessing the ability of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor to withstand the loads resulting from a hypothetical core disruptive accident have been performed. This paper compares the experimental responses of the vessel heads of the models with the corresponding responses resulting from analytic simulation. These comparisons show that relatively simple computer models of the vessel heads can predict head response quite well. Computer simulation of cover-gas compression was also performed. Comparison of these results with the equivalent experimental data indicates significant conservatism in the prediction of cover-gas compression. (orig.)