Date
03 Jun 1988, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Abstract
A rational approach is presented for evaluating differential settlement of structures at nuclear power plants where settlement monitoring and the associated documentation are important. In nuclear plants, allowable differential settlement is governed by the necessity to prevent architectural and structural damage, equipment malfunction, touching of adjacent buildings during an earthquake, and damage to buried utilities. Measurements of actual settlement of the plant should be taken on a regular basis from start of construction and compared with the allowable values. A description is given of methods for calculating allowable values for differential settlements, and a comprehensive program for obtaining actual settlement data at a nuclear site is outlined. The ratio of measured to allowable differential settlement at which remedial action may be required is discussed. A case history of differential settlements at a nuclear plant is presented. The settlement patterns exhibited by the major structures can be correlated with foundation conditions at the plant site. Measured differential settlements are small, generally less than 0.25 inch, compared with values of allowable differential settlement which are mainly greater than 0.75 inch.
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Meeting Name
2nd Conference of the International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering
Publisher
University of Missouri--Rolla
Document Version
Final Version
Rights
© 1988 University of Missouri--Rolla, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
File Type
text
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Lewis, M. R.; Davie, J. R.; and Weaver, C. L., "Differential Settlement of Nuclear Power Plant Foundations" (1988). International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering. 24.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/icchge/2icchge/2icchge-session6/24
Differential Settlement of Nuclear Power Plant Foundations
A rational approach is presented for evaluating differential settlement of structures at nuclear power plants where settlement monitoring and the associated documentation are important. In nuclear plants, allowable differential settlement is governed by the necessity to prevent architectural and structural damage, equipment malfunction, touching of adjacent buildings during an earthquake, and damage to buried utilities. Measurements of actual settlement of the plant should be taken on a regular basis from start of construction and compared with the allowable values. A description is given of methods for calculating allowable values for differential settlements, and a comprehensive program for obtaining actual settlement data at a nuclear site is outlined. The ratio of measured to allowable differential settlement at which remedial action may be required is discussed. A case history of differential settlements at a nuclear plant is presented. The settlement patterns exhibited by the major structures can be correlated with foundation conditions at the plant site. Measured differential settlements are small, generally less than 0.25 inch, compared with values of allowable differential settlement which are mainly greater than 0.75 inch.
