Structural Performance Predictions for Liner Plates on Nuclear Facilities

The history of the use of liner plates is presented. It is shown that the liner plate can be buckled, and can be bonded or not bonded to the concrete. The buckled plate usually has bending strains that exceed the yield strain. These results have been determined theoretically, and have been observed in 'as built conditions'. It is also shown that reinforced and prestressed containments usually crack under operating or accident conditions. As a result, elementary modeling and analytical theories must be modified to obtain realistic results. It is shown that the effective membrane and effective bending thicknesses vary depending on location and details. Recommendations are made on methods that can be used to evaluate liner plate performance and to evaluate the ultimate load carrying capacity of a containment.