| Abstract: | The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) participated in an internationally sponsored seismic research program conducted at the decommissioned Heissdampfreaktor (HDR) located in the Federal Republic of Germany. An existing piping system was modified by installation of 200-mm, naturally aged, motor-operated gate valve from a U.S. nuclear power plant and a piping support system of U.S. design. Using various combinations of snubbers and other supports, six other piping support systems of varying flexibility from stiff to flexible were also installed and tested. Additional valve loadings included internal hydraulic loads and, during one block of tests, elevated temperature. The operability and integrity of the aged gate valve and the dynamic response of the various piping support systems were measured during 25 representative simulations of seismic events. |
