Shaking Table Test and Finite Element Analysis of Isolation Performance for Diesel Engine Building in a Nuclear Power Plant

Base isolation technology, as a mature seismic mitigation method, demonstrates potential for enhancing seismic margins in nuclear power plant structures. This study investigates the seismic performance of isolated and non-isolated models for a diesel generator building in a nuclear power plant throu...

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Main Authors: Yunhui Xiao, Xiangyu Gao, Kuang Xu, Jinlai Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1100
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author Yunhui Xiao
Xiangyu Gao
Kuang Xu
Jinlai Zhou
author_facet Yunhui Xiao
Xiangyu Gao
Kuang Xu
Jinlai Zhou
author_sort Yunhui Xiao
collection DOAJ
description Base isolation technology, as a mature seismic mitigation method, demonstrates potential for enhancing seismic margins in nuclear power plant structures. This study investigates the seismic performance of isolated and non-isolated models for a diesel generator building in a nuclear power plant through shaking table tests. A 1/8-scale structural model was designed and tested under operational safety ground motion (SL-1), ultimate safety ground motion (SL-2), and beyond design benchmark ground motion (BDBE) seismic excitations. A finite element model considering different tensile and compressive stiffnesses of isolation bearings was established to simulate structural dynamic responses under test conditions. The results demonstrate that the test model design is effective, with the maximum isolation rate was close to 50%. The maximum displacement of the isolation layer meets the collision prevention ditch limit. Numerical simulations showed good agreement with experimental results in acceleration time histories, displacement time histories and bearing hysteresis curves. Additionally, the seismic isolation structure has a certain overturning effect in the test. To further optimize the base isolation scheme, numerical analyses incorporating dampers into the isolation layer were conducted, which demonstrated improvements in mitigating the rocking effect of the superstructure.
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spelling doaj-art-b3647749b1134cdebfc8a9e467623a912025-08-20T02:15:55ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-03-01157110010.3390/buildings15071100Shaking Table Test and Finite Element Analysis of Isolation Performance for Diesel Engine Building in a Nuclear Power PlantYunhui Xiao0Xiangyu Gao1Kuang Xu2Jinlai Zhou3Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaBase isolation technology, as a mature seismic mitigation method, demonstrates potential for enhancing seismic margins in nuclear power plant structures. This study investigates the seismic performance of isolated and non-isolated models for a diesel generator building in a nuclear power plant through shaking table tests. A 1/8-scale structural model was designed and tested under operational safety ground motion (SL-1), ultimate safety ground motion (SL-2), and beyond design benchmark ground motion (BDBE) seismic excitations. A finite element model considering different tensile and compressive stiffnesses of isolation bearings was established to simulate structural dynamic responses under test conditions. The results demonstrate that the test model design is effective, with the maximum isolation rate was close to 50%. The maximum displacement of the isolation layer meets the collision prevention ditch limit. Numerical simulations showed good agreement with experimental results in acceleration time histories, displacement time histories and bearing hysteresis curves. Additionally, the seismic isolation structure has a certain overturning effect in the test. To further optimize the base isolation scheme, numerical analyses incorporating dampers into the isolation layer were conducted, which demonstrated improvements in mitigating the rocking effect of the superstructure.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1100nuclear power plantbase isolationshaking table testfinite element analysis
spellingShingle Yunhui Xiao
Xiangyu Gao
Kuang Xu
Jinlai Zhou
Shaking Table Test and Finite Element Analysis of Isolation Performance for Diesel Engine Building in a Nuclear Power Plant
Buildings
nuclear power plant
base isolation
shaking table test
finite element analysis
title Shaking Table Test and Finite Element Analysis of Isolation Performance for Diesel Engine Building in a Nuclear Power Plant
title_full Shaking Table Test and Finite Element Analysis of Isolation Performance for Diesel Engine Building in a Nuclear Power Plant
title_fullStr Shaking Table Test and Finite Element Analysis of Isolation Performance for Diesel Engine Building in a Nuclear Power Plant
title_full_unstemmed Shaking Table Test and Finite Element Analysis of Isolation Performance for Diesel Engine Building in a Nuclear Power Plant
title_short Shaking Table Test and Finite Element Analysis of Isolation Performance for Diesel Engine Building in a Nuclear Power Plant
title_sort shaking table test and finite element analysis of isolation performance for diesel engine building in a nuclear power plant
topic nuclear power plant
base isolation
shaking table test
finite element analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1100
work_keys_str_mv AT yunhuixiao shakingtabletestandfiniteelementanalysisofisolationperformancefordieselenginebuildinginanuclearpowerplant
AT xiangyugao shakingtabletestandfiniteelementanalysisofisolationperformancefordieselenginebuildinginanuclearpowerplant
AT kuangxu shakingtabletestandfiniteelementanalysisofisolationperformancefordieselenginebuildinginanuclearpowerplant
AT jinlaizhou shakingtabletestandfiniteelementanalysisofisolationperformancefordieselenginebuildinginanuclearpowerplant