Response of the Zion and Indian Point containment buildings to severe accident pressures

The failure modes and associated failure pressures for two common generic types of pressurized water reactor (PWR) containments are predicted. One building type is a lightly reinforced, posttensioned structure represented by the Zion nuclear reactor containment. The other is the normally reinforced Indian Point containment. Two-dimensional models of the buildings developed using the finite element method are used to predict the failure modes and failure pressures. A three-dimensional finite element model is used to evaluate the Zion building's equipment hatch penetration. Predicted failure modes for both containments involve loss of structural integrity at the intersection of the cylindrical sidewall with the base slab. The response of the Indian Point building to postulated detonation of a hydrogen-air mixture in the containment dome is also calculated.