Cracking of P/C Nuclear Containment Structures
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 110, Issue 9
Abstract
Rules for determining the spacing and widths of both through‐thewall and surface cracks in post‐tensioned concrete containment structures under internal pressure are presented. These involve the construction details and the average strain obtained from an analysis that accounts for concrete properties in the post‐cracking range. To evaluate these rules and the concrete constitutive relationship used in the analysis, twelve quarter‐scale segments were designed to simulate construction and stress conditions at various locations of a containment structure. Major variables included ratio of prestressing, concrete cover, reinforcement spacing, lap splices and combined axial load and moment. It was observed that the crack spacing depended on the spacing of the reinforcement and prestressing tendons parallel to the cracks and that the final crack pattern was fully developed at the yield strain of the reinforcing steel. Concrete cover was not found to have a significant influence on crack spacing. The procedures developed to determine crack spacing and widths are used to predict the cracking of a one‐fourteenth scale model of a containment structure tested later in the research project.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Beeby, A. W., “A Study of Cracking in Reinforced Concrete Members Subjected to Pure Tension,” Technical Report 42,468, Cement and Concrete Association, London, England, June, 1972.
2.
Bushnell, D., “BOSOR5—A Computer Program for Buckling of Elastic‐Plastic Complex Shells of Revolution Including Large Deflections and Creep,” Vol. 1: User's Manual, Input Data, Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., Dec., 1974.
3.
Bushnell, D., “BOSOR5—A Computer Program for Buckling of Elastic‐Plastic Complex Shells of Revolution Including Large Deflections and Creep,” Vol. 3: Theory and Comparison with Tests, Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., Dec., 1974.
4.
Chitnuyanondh, L., Rizkalla, S. H., Murray, D. W., and MacGregor, J. G., “An Effective Uniaxial Tensile Stress‐Strain Relationship for Prestressed Concrete,” Structural Engineering Report No. 74, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, Feb., 1979.
5.
Leonhardt, F., “Crack Control in Concrete Structures,” IABSE Surveys, S‐4/77, IABSE Periodical 3/1977, International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, Zurich, Switzerland, Aug., 1977.
6.
Libby, J. R., Modern Prestressed Concrete, Van Nostrand‐Reinhold, New York, N.Y., 1977.
7.
MacGregor, J. G., Rizkalla, S. H., and Simmonds, S. H., “Cracking of Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Wall Segments,” Structural Engineering Report No. 82, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, Mar., 1980.
8.
Murray, D. W., Wong, C., Simmonds, S. H., and MacGregor, J. G., “An Inelastic Analysis of the Gentilly‐2 Secondary Containment Structure,” Structural Engineering Report No. 86, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, Apr., 1980.
9.
Rizkalla, S. H., Simmonds, S. H., and MacGregor, J. G., “A Test of a Model of a Thin‐Walled Prestressed Concrete Secondary Containment Structure,” Paper J4/2, SMiRT5, Berlin, Aug., 1979.
10.
Rizkalla, S. H., MacGregor, J. G., and Simmonds, S. H., “Air Leakage Characteristics of Prestressed Concrete Containments,” Transactions, SMiRT6, Paper J4/10, Paris, France, Aug., 1981.
11.
Simmonds, S. H., Rizkalla, S. H., and MacGregor, J. G., “Tests of Wall Segments from Reactor Containments,” Structural Engineering Report No. 81, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, Nov., 1979.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 ASCE.
History
Published online: Sep 1, 1984
Published in print: Sep 1984
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.