NRC Perspectives on AISC N690 and Appendix on Modular Composite Construction (SC)

Dr. Jose Pires

Structural, Geotechnical and Seismic Engineering Branch NRC Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
Jose.Pires@nrc.gov

NESCC Meeting November 29, 2012

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ANSI / AISC N690

The Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: LWR Edition (NUREG-0800), 2010 (SRP), refers to:
N690-1994 including Supplement 2 (2004)

In:
Section 3.8.3 Concrete and Steel Internal Structures of Steel or Concrete Containments Section 3.8.4 Other Seismic Category I Structures

The Standard Review Plan for the Review of an Application for a Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility (NUREG-1718), 2000, refers to
N690-1984 in Section 11.4.6.1 Regulatory Guidance

ANSI/AISC N690
SRP (3.8.3 and 3.8.4) refer to N690 in relation to the following for steel structures
Applicable codes, standards and specifications Loads and load combinations Design and analysis procedures Structural acceptance criteria Materials, quality control, special construction techniques and quality assurance

Example - SRP 3.8.4 - II.5 Structural Acceptance Criteria

For each of the loading combinations delineated in Subsection II.3 of this SRP section, the structural acceptance criteria appear in ACI 349 and RG 1.142 for concrete structures, and AISC N6901994, including Supplement 2 (2004), for steel structures.

No supplemental criteria added

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ANSI/AISC N690
SRP references (additional examples) SRP 3.8.4 - II.3 Loads and Load Combinations
All loads and load combinations are to be in accordance with AISC N690-1994 including Supplement 2 (2004). This specification uses the allowable stress design (ASD) method. The supplemental criteria on the use of loads and load combinations presented above for concrete structures also apply to steel structures.

SRP 3.8.3 - II.3 Structural Acceptance Criteria

ANSI/AISC N690-1994 including Supplement 2 (2004) defines the structural acceptance criteria for steel structures. This specification uses the ASD method. Use of the LRFD version of the specification (N690L) is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Reference is to ASD methods (as opposed to the use of LRFD for concrete structures)
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Review of ANSI/AISC N690-2012

Current guidance (staff review guidance) addresses the older standard
Still considered adequate for safety
Supplements to 1994 edition

Still used by end users (licensees and applicants)

Should the NRC review and endorse the new standard?

NRC has been contacted by the AISC in that regard What are new technical and regulatory issues addressed and what are their safety significance? (previous presentations address some of this)

Examples of technical/regulatory issues

Technologies and understanding of relevant phenomena (e.g., materials, construction, analysis and characterization of loads) evolved N690-2012 uses ANSI/AISC 360-10, Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, as the baseline document (instead of standalone document)
Discontinuation of Supplements to 1994 edition

Use of LRFD approach (with ASD as an alternative) which is consistent with the code for concrete structures (ACI-349) Standard for Modular Composite Construction (SC) (planned Appendix N9)
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Modular Composite Construction (SC)

Steel plate and concrete composite modular (SC) have been adopted for safety-related structures of new reactor designs
E.g., containment internal structures

SC construction is still outside the scope of existing US standards for safety-related structures Case-by-case review is still done for current applications, license amendments and potential new applications Standard under development by Ad-hoc subcommittee to AISCs Task Committee 12 (TC 12)
Planned as Appendix N9 to ANSI/AISC N690

NRC Research Activities

Sponsored research at Brookhaven National Laboratory (1990s) to review technical bases for regulatory guidance (NUREG/CR-6486, 1997) Engaged outside experts (academia and industry) to inform confirmatory reviews of certain proposed designs Staff participates in the activities of TC 12s ad-hoc subcommittee
Outside experts informed staff review of technical bases (2011) Held public meeting (August 2011)

Sponsoring numerical modeling research for interpretation of testing, benchmarking and confirmatory analysis tools Reviewing international codes and guidance
JEAC-4618 (2009) Japan ASD approach KEPIC (2010) Korea LRFD approach

Review of SC Standard
Resulting designs must satisfy regulations Resulting designs would (as examples):
Provide adequate strength and stiffness Prevent non-ductile failure modes Provide durability through the use of adequate materials, control of concrete cracking, prevention of steel and rebar corrosion Provide clear load paths avoiding load path discontinuities

Other items of interest

Materials and material properties (steel plates, studs, tie bars, etc) Type of concrete (e.g., conventional vs. self-consolidating) Constructability Inspection Harmonization with international standards
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Review of SC Standard
Challenges (examples)
Design criteria for connections and connections to other construction types, e.g., reinforced concrete Experimental database for combined load effects Designs should be based on sound engineering principles and validated methods

Staff continues the review of the technical bases for the provisions in the US standard under development as well as review of the scope of the provisions
Effort includes review of existing international standards (E.g., JEAC and KEPIC)

Background work is being done to review AISCs white paper or other publicly available publication on the SC standard under development (Appendix N9)
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Acronyms
AISC American Institute of Steel Construction ANSI American National Standards Institute ASD Allowable Stress Design JEAC Japan Electric Association Code KEPIC Korea Electric Power Industry Code LRFD Load and Resistance Factor Design SC Modular Composite Construction (Wall modules constructed from large prefabricated sections of steel plates spaced apart and joined with intermittent steel members or tie bars, joined with other modules at the site, and then filled with concrete) SRP Standard Review Plan

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