Seismic isolation of small modular reactors using metamaterials

Adaptation of metamaterials at micro- to nanometer scales to metastructures at much larger scales offers a new alternative for seismic isolation systems. These new isolation systems, known as periodic foundations, function both as a structural foundation to support gravitational weight of the supers...

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Main Authors: Witarto Witarto, S. J. Wang, C. Y. Yang, Xin Nie, Y. L. Mo, K. C. Chang, Yu Tang, Robert Kassawara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2018-04-01
Series:AIP Advances
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5020161
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author Witarto Witarto
S. J. Wang
C. Y. Yang
Xin Nie
Y. L. Mo
K. C. Chang
Yu Tang
Robert Kassawara
author_facet Witarto Witarto
S. J. Wang
C. Y. Yang
Xin Nie
Y. L. Mo
K. C. Chang
Yu Tang
Robert Kassawara
author_sort Witarto Witarto
collection DOAJ
description Adaptation of metamaterials at micro- to nanometer scales to metastructures at much larger scales offers a new alternative for seismic isolation systems. These new isolation systems, known as periodic foundations, function both as a structural foundation to support gravitational weight of the superstructure and also as a seismic isolator to isolate the superstructure from incoming seismic waves. Here we describe the application of periodic foundations for the seismic protection of nuclear power plants, in particular small modular reactors (SMR). For this purpose, a large-scale shake table test on a one-dimensional (1D) periodic foundation supporting an SMR building model was conducted. The 1D periodic foundation was designed and fabricated using reinforced concrete and synthetic rubber (polyurethane) materials. The 1D periodic foundation structural system was tested under various input waves, which include white noise, stepped sine and seismic waves in the horizontal and vertical directions as well as in the torsional mode. The shake table test results show that the 1D periodic foundation can reduce the acceleration response (transmissibility) of the SMR building up to 90%. In addition, the periodic foundation-isolated structure also exhibited smaller displacement than the non-isolated SMR building. This study indicates that the challenge faced in developing metastructures can be overcome and the periodic foundations can be applied to isolating vibration response of engineering structures.
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spelling doaj.art-259dc1df544a49a4a4a39061147ff4612022-12-21T18:36:57ZengAIP Publishing LLCAIP Advances2158-32262018-04-0184045307045307-1610.1063/1.5020161025804ADVSeismic isolation of small modular reactors using metamaterialsWitarto Witarto0S. J. Wang1C. Y. Yang2Xin Nie3Y. L. Mo4K. C. Chang5Yu Tang6Robert Kassawara7University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USANational Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering, Taipei 10668, TaiwanNational Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering, Taipei 10668, TaiwanTsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaUniversity of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USANational Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering, Taipei 10668, TaiwanArgonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USAElectric Power Research Institute, Charlotte, NC 28262, USAAdaptation of metamaterials at micro- to nanometer scales to metastructures at much larger scales offers a new alternative for seismic isolation systems. These new isolation systems, known as periodic foundations, function both as a structural foundation to support gravitational weight of the superstructure and also as a seismic isolator to isolate the superstructure from incoming seismic waves. Here we describe the application of periodic foundations for the seismic protection of nuclear power plants, in particular small modular reactors (SMR). For this purpose, a large-scale shake table test on a one-dimensional (1D) periodic foundation supporting an SMR building model was conducted. The 1D periodic foundation was designed and fabricated using reinforced concrete and synthetic rubber (polyurethane) materials. The 1D periodic foundation structural system was tested under various input waves, which include white noise, stepped sine and seismic waves in the horizontal and vertical directions as well as in the torsional mode. The shake table test results show that the 1D periodic foundation can reduce the acceleration response (transmissibility) of the SMR building up to 90%. In addition, the periodic foundation-isolated structure also exhibited smaller displacement than the non-isolated SMR building. This study indicates that the challenge faced in developing metastructures can be overcome and the periodic foundations can be applied to isolating vibration response of engineering structures.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5020161
spellingShingle Witarto Witarto
S. J. Wang
C. Y. Yang
Xin Nie
Y. L. Mo
K. C. Chang
Yu Tang
Robert Kassawara
Seismic isolation of small modular reactors using metamaterials
AIP Advances
title Seismic isolation of small modular reactors using metamaterials
title_full Seismic isolation of small modular reactors using metamaterials
title_fullStr Seismic isolation of small modular reactors using metamaterials
title_full_unstemmed Seismic isolation of small modular reactors using metamaterials
title_short Seismic isolation of small modular reactors using metamaterials
title_sort seismic isolation of small modular reactors using metamaterials
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5020161
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AT kcchang seismicisolationofsmallmodularreactorsusingmetamaterials
AT yutang seismicisolationofsmallmodularreactorsusingmetamaterials
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