U.S. steam explosion research: Risk perspective and experimental results

In part 1 of this presentation it is discussed the significance of steam explosion events in ractor safety analysis. The physical processes involved in a steam explosion event are briefly described and the results from the Reactor Safety Study reviewed, where the first attempt at quantifying the risk from steam explosion was made. The author describes the elements of the NRC steam explosion research program, presents a summary of past results from this research program and indicates how these results from this research program and indicates how these results have changed the perception of the importance of steam explosions as a safety concern in postulated meltdown accidents. In the second part of this presentation, it is described, the Sandia steam explosion research program. A summary of the results of the experimental and analytical are presented programs which are investigating the physical processos involved in steam explosion events. There are also described the technical basis for the containment failure estimates which are presented. (orig./GL)