Design of Foundations for NPP Structures

摘要

The purpose of the foundations is to provide a stable base for the superstructure and to transfer safely all loads andtheir effects to the ground. To achieve this purpose, it should have adequate factor of safety against sliding, overturning andfloatation and the maximum bearing pressure under any point of foundation should be within the allowable limit. Thesimultaneous occurrence of different load conditions of downward gravity loads, lateral and vertical loads due to seismicevent and upward buoyancy effect due to sub-soil water in various combinations should be considered to generate mostcritical design condition. Under the most critical design condition, the foundation in all probable cases partially loses contactwith the substrata. The analysis and design of foundations for the most critical design conditions are discussed in this paperwith an illustrative example and the solution adopted for a Nuclear Power Plant structure under construction in India.