Vol. 57 No. 4 (2020)   Nuclear Power
Technical Papers

Advanced Structural Evaluation Process for Main Components of Reactor Coolant System Using Large-scale Structural Analysis Technology

KEITA WATANABE
SEIJI ASADA
MAKOTO NAKAJIMA
KOYA INOUE
NAOKI ONO
YASUFUMI AMETANI

For main components such as reactor vessels and steam generators that constitute the reactor coolant system of a PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) nuclear power plant, the evaluation of structural integrity against temperature and pressure transients during operation and against seismic loads using detailed analysis is required. Conventionally, we have performed this detailed structural analysis process using subdivided analysis models. In addition, with the recent evolution of structural analysis methodology, we are developing a method to develop a structural analysis process that seamlessly efficiently performs the structural analysis of the main components of a reactor coolant system (hereinafter referred to as seamless structural analysis process).