Three-dimensional structural analysis for enhancing resilience of next-generation nuclear structures under extremely high temperature conditions

Futagami, Satoshi  ; Ando, Masanori ; Yamano, Hidemasa   

To enhance resilience of next-generation nuclear structures, it is necessary to develop design methodology that mitigates impacts of failure caused by extremely high temperature conditions which might lead to a severe accident. In this study, three-dimensional structural analysis of a loop-type sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) Monju has been conducted to understand its deformation behavior and to identify the areas which should be focused to mitigate impacts of failure. A postulated event sequence was a protected loss of heat sink (PLOHS) event, which may cause all decay heat removal systems to lose their functions immediately after reactor shutdown. This analysis suggests that no discontinuous section of RV lower panel is recommended to restrain the fracture of RV lower panel in order to enhance the RV resilience.