Containment Integrity Research Program

The present experimental effort is the static internal pressurization of models of steel containment structures. The first set of models are about 1/32 the size of hybrid-steel containments. A test of a check-out model has been completed and tests of three different model configurations has also been conducted. Testing of a large steel model (about 1/8 of full size) will complete the static pressure experiments with steel models. Analysis of the models is paralleling the experimental effort. Static internal pressurization of reinforced concrete models is being planned for mid-1986. An assessment of state-of-the-art methods for analyzing reinforced concrete containments is underway. The experiments will provide necessary data for qualification of analytical methods. The Containment Integrity Program is being coordinated with other NRC programs on potential leakage of penetrations in containments. The results from all of the programs should provide a basis for predicting the structural and leakage behavior of containments during temperature and internal pressure loadings.