SE19 Paper- Blast loading brick:Layout 1

Synopsis Much effort is being deployed in maintaining electricity generation from the UK’s fleet of nuclear power stations with safety being a prime consideration. Up-to-date safety standards demand resistance to hazards which normally include seismic and blast loading, yet many stations were built before such considerations became mandatory. To extend the generating life of older nuclear power stations, a demonstration of conformity to modern safety standards is now required. This paper will discuss the structural problems associated with assessing and strengthening masonry panels subjected to blast loadings as generated by a postulated accident of hot gas release from fracture of a reactor pressure vessel’s cooling circuit. The paper will provide background on masonry strength and assessment techniques, including the use of dynamic amplification which permits static design principles to be used under dynamic loading conditions. An account of the strengthening options and the problems associated with their implementation will be presented.