Structural and Construction Problems in Prestressed Concrete Reactor Pressure Vessels.

Problems encountered in design and construction of pressure vessels are discussed. The optimum concrete mixtures are evaluated. Different possibilities in solving the problems of concrete casting underneath the almost horizontal liner bottom are discussed. Improvements of circumferential prestressing techniques are presented. Concentrated arrangement of different components such as liner-cooling, feeding pipes for cooling, liner anchorages, and strong reinforcement yield considerable constructional problems in some vessel regions. Difficulties in getting satisfactory solutions could be substantially reduced by using steel fiber reinforced concrete. Corresponding alternatives are presented and discussed. Finally possibilities of liner and penetration liner anchoring are pointed out.