Design of steel energy-absorbing restrainers and their incorporation into nuclear power plants for enhanced safety. Volume 1A. Piping with energy-absorbing restrainers: parameter study on small systems

This report presents results of an analytical parameter study of small piping systems with energy-absorbing restrainers subjected to seismic loading. The investigation extends a previously reported parameter study. Two small piping configurations have been investigated in detail, for a variety of restrainer locations, restrainer strengths and seismic excitations. A larger system has been analyzed for one set of parameters only. Studies of the following were carried out: (1) effect of restrainer strength; (2) effect of restrainer location; (3) sensitivity to small changes in restrainer location; (4) effect of viscous damping; (5) effect of out-of-phase support motions; and (6) effect of restrainer preload due to thermal expansion of piping.