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Updated: Jun 10, 2025
08:45
Study of Siphon Breaker Experiment and Simulation for a Research Reactor
Published on: September 26, 2017
8.7K
Seismic performance of base-isolated structures for swimming pool reactors under different foundation conditions
Jie Zhao1, Jianshan Wang1, Jiehua Huang2
1School of Architectural Engineering, Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Plos One
|October 18, 2024
Summary
Seismic isolation effectively mitigates earthquake impacts on swimming pool reactors (SPRs). However, reduced site stiffness decreases isolation effectiveness, while sloshing wave heights increase but remain safe.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Earthquake Engineering
Background:
- Swimming pool reactors (SPRs) represent an innovative, eco-friendly heating solution.
- Assessing the seismic performance of SPR buildings is crucial for safety and operational continuity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the seismic mitigation performance of an SPR building incorporating liquid sloshing effects.
- To analyze the influence of varying soil-structure interaction (SSI) conditions on the seismic resistance of isolated SPR structures.
Main Methods:
- A 3D dynamic interaction model was developed using ANSYS software with user-programmable features (UPFs).
- Liquid sloshing was modeled using viscous-spring boundary elements for energy dissipation and the Housner model for dynamic hydraulics.
- Soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects were incorporated to evaluate seismic isolation performance under different foundation conditions.
Main Results:
- Seismic isolation effectiveness, measured by reduced acceleration, floor response spectra, displacement, and base shear, decreased with decreasing site stiffness.
- Sloshing wave height was amplified by seismic isolation across all tested conditions, yet remained within acceptable safety thresholds.
- Foundation stiffness significantly impacts the seismic response and isolation efficiency of SPR structures.
Conclusions:
- Seismic isolation is a viable strategy for enhancing SPR seismic resilience, but its efficacy is site-dependent.
- Design considerations for SPRs must account for the interplay between site conditions, SSI, and liquid sloshing dynamics.
- The study provides critical data for optimizing seismic design guidelines for SPRs globally.
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