2023 Volume 21 Issue 7 Pages 536-554
Reinforced concrete (RC) hollow cylindrical members were numerically investigated to understand the impact of the radiation-induced volume expansion of aggregates on the seismic performance of the member. The rigid body spring network model was used in this analysis, and the proposed constitutive laws and used parameters were validated by comparing two horizontal loading experiments for two RC members: a reference experiment and one in which a temperature gradient developed in wall of the members. The resultant volume expansion of concrete was confirmed. After validating the methodology, different degrees of aggregate expansion strain were applied to the aggregate elements considering the reduced temperature and neutron fluence distribution inside the wall, assuming the real size of the biological shielding concrete. The RC members were then loaded horizontally. It was confirmed that the stiffness and maximum bearing capacity decreased slightly with an increase in the neutron fluence, and the deformation at the maximum bearing capacity increased slightly. Based on the rigid body spring network model calculation results, a simplified analytical model that can reproduce the shear deformation–horizontal load relationship was proposed based on the model proposed by Inada (1987).
