Preoperational vibration test of a primary heat transport system of the Canadian deuterium uranium reactor

During preoperational tests of Wolsong-2 nuclear power plant (NPP) which is a Canadian deuterium uranium (CANDU) reactor, vibration measurements were made on the primary heat transport (PHT) system. These measurements were evaluated by spectral methods to determine modal displacements and the modal stresses induced in the piping. The main aim of the measurement program is to confirm that the structural systems and components are adequately dimensioned for the operational vibration loads during the design life of the reactor. Structural analysis of the PHT system was performed using ADLPIPE computer code to determine modal displacements and modal stresses analytically. The measurement results were compared with the analytically calculated resonance frequencies and modal values. A reasonable correspondence of the test and analytical results was achieved. The stresses evaluated on the PHT system were below the endurance limit for the material with a margin of safety. © 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.