Structural assessment of the ITER magnet system gravity supports

This paper describes the analyses performed and results obtained to justify the present bolted design of the 18 gravity supports which support the entire ITER magnet system. A non-linear finite element model has been developed which includes features like non-linear contact and friction. The structural assessment, including the stress, fatigue and buckling analyses, has been carried out according to the ITER Magnet Structural Design Criteria in which four categories of events and four distinct criteria levels and corresponding loading categories and damage limits are defined.