An experimental study on damping characteristics of mechanical snubber for nuclear power plant piping systems

The objectives of this study are 1) to clarify the damping characteristics and the dynamic stiffness of mechanical snubber, 2) to take the damping characteristics of mechanical snubber into the damping evaluation method obtained in SDREP. Therefore, following vibration tests were conducted. 1) Component test: As a first step, mechanical snubbers were excited with sinusoidal wave, and damping ratio and dynamic stiffness were measured at several loading levels. 2) Piping model test: Second, a 8'' diameter x 16 m length 3-dimensional piping model simulating the supporting conditions of actual piping systems was tested. Damping ratio and made shapes of piping model with mechanical snubbers were measured at several supporting conditions and response levels. From the results of these tests, the damping characteristics and the dynamic stiffness of mechanical snubber can be summarized as follows: 1) The damping effect of mechanical snubber is as strong as that of oil snubber. 2) Mechanical snubber contributes effectively to the damping of piping system, and it is indicated that the damping characteristics of mechanical snubber is applicable to the damping evaluation method obtained in SDREP. (orig./HP)