This study intends to evaluate the conservativeness of the fixed-base analysis as compared to the soil-structure interaction (SSI) analysis for the seismically isolated model of a nuclear power plant in Korea. To that goal, the boundary reaction method (BRM), combining frequency-domain and time-domain analyses in a twofold process, is adopted for the SSI analysis considering the nonlinearity of the seismic base isolation. The program KIESSI-3D is used for computing the reaction forces in the frequency domain and the program MIDAS/Civil is applied for the nonlinear time-domain analysis. The BRM numerical model is verified by comparing the results of the frequency-domain analysis and time-domain analysis for the soil-structure system with an equivalent linear base isolation model. Moreover, the displacement response of the base isolation and the horizontal response at the top of the structure obtained by the nonlinear SSI analysis using BRM are compared with those obtained by the fixed-base analysis. The comparison reveals that the fixed-base analysis provides conservative peak deformation for the base isolation but is not particularly conservative in term of the floor response spectrum of the superstructure.

이 연구는 기초의 묻힘이 면진 원전구조물의 응답에 미치는 효과를 지표기초와 비교하여 평가하였다. 면진장치의 비선형 성을 고려한 비선형 SSI 해석은 진동수영역해석과 시간영역해석의 복합법인 경계반력법(BRM)을 이용하여 수행하였다. BRM 해석모델은 BRM을 이용한 등가선형 SSI 해석결과를 재래의 주파수영역 SSI 해석결과와 비교함으로 검증하였다. 마 지막으로 비선형 SSI해석에 의한 묻힌기초 모델의 면진장치의 변위 및 구조물 응답을 지표기초의 해석결과와 비교하였다. 비교결과, 면진장치의 변위응답은 묻힌기초효과를 고려할 경우 감소할 수 있음을 알 수 있었다.

Base isolation is considered as a seismic protective system in the design of next generation Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). If seismic isolation devices are installed in nuclear power plants then the safety under a seismic load of the power plant may be improved. However, with respect to some equipment, seismic risk may increase because displacement may become greater than before the installation of a seismic isolation device. Therefore, it is estimated to be necessary to select equipment in which the seismic risk increases due to an increase in the displacement by the installation of a seismic isolation device, and to perform research on the seismic performance of each piece of equipment. In this study, modified NRC-BNL benchmark models were used for seismic analysis. The numerical models include representations of isolation devices. In order to validate the numerical piping system model and to define the failure mode, a quasi-static loading test was conducted on the piping components before the analysis procedures. The fragility analysis was performed by using the results of the inelastic seismic response analysis. Inelastic seismic response analysis was carried out by using the shell finite element model of a piping system considering internal pressure. The implicit method was used for the direct integration time history analysis. In addition, the collapse load point was used for the failure mode for the fragility analysis.

This paper addresses simplified method for nonlinear soil–structure interactions (SSI) analysis of base-isolated nuclear power plant (NPP) structure under incident seismic waves. The accuracy and applicability of the method are evaluated by comparing with nonlinear time history responses obtained by the boundary reaction method (BRM).

This paper addresses simplified method for nonlinear soil–structure interactions (SSI) analysis of base-isolated nuclear power plant (NPP) structure under incident seismic waves. The accuracy and applicability of the method are evaluated by comparing with nonlinear time history responses obtained by the boundary reaction method (BRM).