Development of the buckling evaluation method for large scale vessel in fast reactors by the testing of austenitic stainless steel vessel with severe initial imperfection subjected to horizontal and vertical loading

Okafuji, Takashi*; Miura, Kazuhiro*; Sago, Hiromi*; Murakami, Hisatomo*; Ando, Masanori ; Okajima, Satoshi 

Buckling evaluation methods capable of evaluating elasto-plastic buckling under axial compression, bending, and shear loads are required for cylindrical vessels of fast reactors to cope with thinning due to increasing diameter and application to the seismic isolation design against huge seismic ground motion. In this study, in order to confirm the applicability of the proposal evaluation method, several buckling tests and FE analyses were carried out using the specimens made of austenitic stainless steel. The buckling modes and strength data in the load region where the interaction of cyclic axial compression, bending and shear buckling could occur were examined. As a result, it was confirmed that the proposal evaluation method estimated the buckling load in the tests conservatively. Moreover, a series of finite element analyzes to confirm the applicability of the evaluation method in 2.25Cr-1Mo steel and up to 650 C were conducted.