STRUCTURAL AND THERMAL ANALYSES OF PRESSURE VESSEL BOTTOM HEAD WITH PENETRATION HOLES

摘要

The paper presents a three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) model of a nuclear pressure vessel and the analyses results under typical loadings using ANSYS finite element code. Structural analyses of the vessel with internal pressure loading and thermal transient loading are described. The main focus of the analysis is on the bottom head shell with the Control Rod Drive (CRD) penetration holes. The vessel support skirt and selected CRD housing/welds that attached to the bottom head shell are included in the model. The objective of this study is to assess the bottom head stress distributions of a nuclear pressure vessel, especially the stress concentrations due to the CRD penetration openings. The calculated stresses around uphill oblique holes in the vessel are compared with those around the normal facing center penetration hole. The preliminary results and conclusions drawn from the study are presented in the paper.