Computational Modal Analyses of a Steel Nuclear Containment Vessel

In order to obtain frequencies and modal shapes of a nuclear containment vessel, the computational analyses have been carried out through free structure finite element analysis software. The finite element model of the vessel is built with shell element and solved by the type of the dynamics frequency solver. Results show that mainly deformation area is on the vessels cylindrical shell and the maximum displacements occur at its center. Compared with the design validation values, the frequencies obtained are a little lower. It may be because that the model built here is a completely vessel shell without any hatches or attachments. It is provided that a reliable method of computational structural analyses for the nuclear containment without commercial software cost.