Nuclear Plant Seismic Upgrades

Project Highlights

  • NRC Tier 1 seismic reevaluation identified CMU block walls requiring strengthening
  • Several methods were evaluated and CFRP was selected
  • Design and installation work completed in full compliance with nuclear plant procedures and quality standards

Project:

The Plant Operator performed the NRC Tier 1 Seismic Reevaluation analysis. One area was identified – the support building’s CMU block walls required strengthening.

Various methods of reinforcement were evaluated and CFRP was the selected solution:

  • Carbon Fiber strength and light weight
  • Simplified installation, shorter schedule
  • Cost effective

Our CFRP Team was brought in to preform the seismic engineering and CFRP installation.

Solution:

Seismic engineering determined the reinforcement requirements for the CMU block wall strengthening.

Testing was performed to verify material strength of CFRP samples using pull test. These tests provided a final calibration of the CFRP design.

Five block walls were then prepped and CFRP was applied per the design documents.

Results:

The work was completed on budget and schedule with no safety issues. The results are seismic compliant structures using cost effective CFRP methods and materials.