Uncertainty of different modeling methods of NPP building subject to seismic ground motions

Choi, B.  ; Nishida, Akemi  ; Shiomi, Tadahiko; Muramatsu, Ken*; Takada, Tsuyoshi*  

In this study, to clarify the influence of the uncertainty of the input seismic ground-motion response of a nuclear power plant (NPP) building, we examined seismic-response analysis results using two different methods of modeling buildings and then compared the results to evaluate effects related to differences between the models. The two methods we used are the three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) model (mainly composed of shell elements) and the conventional sway-rocking (SR) model. Also, using features of the 3D FE model, we analyzed the spatial features of the response results. In this paper, we describe the differences in seismic response obtained by the 3D FE model and the SR model based on simulated input ground motions, and we discuss the influence of the characteristics of the input ground motion on the maximum-response acceleration of the modeled NPP building.