Using the ANSYS/LS-DYNA to Investigate the Seismic Response of Dry Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel

Using the ANSYS/LS-DYNA to Investigate the Seismic Response of Dry Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel

The management and storage of the high radioactive waste has always been an important subject to maintain the security and running continuously of nuclear power plants. The planning of spent fuel storage including three steps:(1) short term storage;(2) interim storage; and(3) long-term storage. The concept of dry storage system means the spent fuel was stored in cask which is freestanding on a concrete pad. This leads to stability concerns in terms of sliding, rocking or tipping over in an earthquake event. In this study, the ANSYSLS/LS-DYNA code is adopter to analyze the seismic response of the dry storage facility. A 3D coupled finite element model was established, which consisted of a freestanding cask, a concrete pad, the interface friction coefficient and an artificial earthquake. The results show that there is a threshold value of friction coefficient control the fist move of cask to slide or rotation. The friction coefficient between freestanding cask and concrete pad will influence the seismic behavior of cask. The cask will slide and rotation but not tip over during the artificial earthquake. The design and analysis of dry storage facility need to consider the influence of friction coefficient.