Hydrodynamic response of primary reactor containment to high-energy excursions

Abstract A numerical method for calculating the two-dimensional hydrodynamic response of a primary reactor containment system to a high-energy excursion is described. Equations of hydrodynamics and equations of state of reactor materials are expressed in Lagrangian form and then set into finite-difference equations. Shock discontinuities are eliminated by the use of the Von Neumann-Richtmyer pseudo-viscosity q . These equations, along with pressure pulse and other pertinent input data are programmed for solution on the IBM-360 computer. Propagation of shock waves, loads imposed on different parts of the reactor components, and the resulting damage are determined at every time step until the steel vessel ruptures or the force acting on the rotating shield plug exceeds the strength of the plug hold-down device. Calculated displacements and pressures at all spatial points at any instant of time also can be given in pictorial form.