Some aspects of the reliability-based design of reactor containment structures

A rational procedure for the design of reactor containment structures is carried out within a probabilistic framework. Various risk concepts such as the return period, non-encounter probability and the reliability function are discussed. Internal load conditions caused by system failure such as LOCA pressure loads, and external load conditions caused, for instance, by impact due to aircraft crashes, external pressure waves and natural hazards such as earthquakes and severe storms, are described by extreme value distributions of the largest values of the Fisher-Tippett types. Statistical and physical arguments are given to support their application. The occurrence of these rare events with respect to time is modeled by a Poisson process. The ultimate strength of a PWR containment structure for the steel (liner) shell is also modeled by an extreme value distribution (of the smallest values). As a good approximation the load action of the shell structure is determined by linear elastic analysis. The failure criterion considered here is that of reaching the ultimate tensile strength at one point of the structure. A numerical example of the reliability analysis of a steel shell structure under internal overpressure is carried out.