Coupled RELAP5, 3D CFD and FEM analysis of postulated cracks in RPVs subjected to PTS loading

• RPV fracture mechanics model based on RELAP5.
• RPV fracture mechanics model based on CFD.
• RPV fracture mechanics analysis.

The fracture mechanic analysis of a reactor pressure vessel subjected to pressurized thermal shock loading is one of the most important issues for the assessment of life time extension of a nuclear power plant. The most severe scenario occurs during cold water injection in the cold leg due to a Loss-Of-Coolant Accident (LOCA). In the present study a comprehensive fracture mechanics analysis is performed. Two hypothetical LOCAs are assumed for an adopted reference design of a two-loop Pressurized Water Reactor. Boundary conditions obtained from the RELAP5 code are used as input for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. For the structural integrity analysis, submodeling technique and the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) based on temperatures calculated by CFD are applied. The results from the 3D FEM calculations are compared to those from a simplified axisymmetric model based on axisymmetric thermal hydraulic model results. The analysis identifies the worst crack orientation and location. It also proves that a complete model is needed for a correct analysis as the simplified model is not conservative and fails to describe accurately the local plume effect.