Preliminary computations for a Representative Structural Volume of nuclear containment buildings

The behaviour of a Representative Structural Volume for containment buildings of 1300 and 1450 MWe nuclear power plants is studied. First computations are considered to investigate the fracture mode of the structure and especially the role of the prestressing tendons. Cables initiate the development of a localized mechanical damage and help its propagation. The preliminary computations also underline the need for an experimental validation to further investigate the issue of the mechanical degradation. That is why an experimental device is proposed and described. As the new structure is supposed to represent the containment building of a 1450 MWe nuclear power plant, new computations are carried out with the finite element code Cast3M. They confirm the key role of the prestressed tendons in the development of damage.