Scholarly record

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE USE OF VARIOUS CODES WHEN PERFORMING THE CALCULATION TOTAL SETTLEMENT OF THE REACTOR BUILDING NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN COHESIVE SOILS

Nikita Kurilin

Abstract

The Reactor Building NPP is a unique structure and has a complex nature of interaction with the soil foundation of various types. The complex nature of interaction is primarily due to the high load (approximately 0.6 MPa), behavior of the foundation slab as a fully rigid stamp, large load transmission area (6400 m2), and a long period of the building operation (at least 80 years). The main characteristic that describes interaction between the building and the soil foundation is the settlement whose maximum values are restricted by regulatory documents. If such value is exceeded, the NPP operation may be suspended, which spells major financial losses. Moreover, the settlement must be forecasted with precision for the entire operation period (80 years and longer). This work deals with comparative analysis of approaches to the settlement determination using regulatory documents of the Russian Federation and the USA. The main interest of comparing these regulatory documents lies in different methods of settlement determination based on different schools of soil mechanics. In addition to this, there will be determined an optimal method that takes into account all specifics of interaction between the Reactor Building and the soil foundation. A real NPP construction site composed of silty clay water-saturated soils with specific physical and mechanical properties is used as a soil foundation. This geology allows carrying out an evaluation of instant and temporary settlements (filtration, creep) of the Reactor Building for the entire period of the NPP operation.

Publication details

Back to publication list