DOE OSTI2012
The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of River Protection has commissioned a structural analysis of record for the Hanford single shell tanks to assess their structural integrity. The analysis used finite element techniques to predict the tank response to the historical thermal and operating loads. The analysis also addressed the potential tank response to a postulated design basis earthquake. The combined response to static and seismic loads was then evaluated against the design requirements of American Concrete Institute standard, ACI-349-06, for nuclear safety-related concrete structures. Further analysis was conducted to estimate the plastic limit load and the elastic-plastic buckling capacity of the tanks. The limit load and buckling analyses estimate the margin between the applied loads and the limiting load capacities of the tank structure. The potential for additional dome loads from waste retrieval equipment and the addition of large dome penetrations to accommodate retrieval equipment has generated additional interest in the limit load and buckling analyses. This paper summarizes the structural analysis methods that were used to evaluate the limit load and buckling of the single shell tanks. This paper summarizes the structural analysis methods that were used to evaluate the limit load and buckling limit states of the underground single shell tanks at the Hanford site. The limit loads were calculated using nonlinear finite element models that capture the progressive deformation and damage to the concrete as it approaches the limit load. Both uniform and concentrated loads over the tank dome were considered, and the analysis shows how adding a penetration in the center of the tank would affect the limit loads. For uniform surface loads, the penetration does not affect the limit load because concrete crushing and rebar yielding initiates first at the top of the wall, away from the penetration. For concentrated loads, crushing initiates at the center of the dome, so the penetration does reduce the concentrated limit load somewhat. However, the safety factors comparing the limit loads to the maximum allowable applied loads remain well above the required value of 3.0. The buckling analysis method accounts for the geometric imperfections, concrete creep, cracking and reinforcements, and concrete plasticity in determining the allowable buckling load limits. The method was demonstrated in this paper for the evaluation of a tank before and after a penetration is added in the dome center. Finite element buckling models were used to accurately calculate the linear critical buckling loads. The models showed that adding the penetration reduces the linear critical buckling load by only 2.5%. Bounding cases also showed that the possible range of soil support on the walls does not significantly affect the dome buckling loads. Buckling models of the full 360 deg. dome also showed that the dome is more resistant to buckling when the load is offset than when it is positioned over the center. These limit load and buckling analysis methods are being used at the Hanford site to assess the tank loads that can be safely applied during future waste retrieval activities. (authors)
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗