Numerical simulations of nuclear power plant containment subjected to aircraft impact

Since the September 11 attacks, the protective performance of the nuclear power plant (NPP) containment against the impact of large commercial aircraft has been drawing much attention in the field of nuclear security. This paper addresses the numerical simulations of NPP containment subjected to aircraft impact. Firstly, the fine FE models of the Chinese Ling Ao NPP prestressed containment and A320 aircraft are established, and calibrated by the prototype impact test of GE-J79 engine and the modified Riera function, respectively. Then, based on the verified FE models, the entire impact process of the aircraft collision with the containment is reproduced by the missile-target interaction method, which is preferable by comparing with the loading-time history method in analyzing the dynamic responses of the containment. Furthermore, the parametric study is performed to investigate the influences of impact condition (position, angle and velocity) and structural configuration (wall thickness, reinforcement ratio and prestressing force) on the deflection-time history of the NPP containment in the impact central zone. Finally, an explicit formula for predicting the maximum impact deflection of the containment against the aircraft collision is proposed, which is helpful for the engineers in designing the NPP containment.