Practical research of free standing rack (Development of seismic evaluation method)

Abstract

Under earthquake condition, the response of the free standing rack is nonlinear and involves complex combination of motion, such as sliding, rocking, twisting, and impacts between the fuel assemblies and the rack cells and between the pool floor and the rack pedestals. To obtain an accurate simulation of the free standing rack, the seismic analysis requires careful considerations of these complex phenomena, and fluid coupling effects. This seismic evaluation method was validated by comparison to full-scale test results. However, the conservative evaluation method is required, since analysis results are not entirely consistent with the test results. In this study, authors obtained the margin of safety for free standing rack, and developed the seismic design method.

Keywords

• spent fuel rack
• seismic evaluation
• full-scale
• free standing
• sliding
• rocking
• impact
• margin of safety