Structural Health Monitoring for Reinforced Concrete Containment Using Inner Electrical Resistivity Method

Abstract

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) are considered as the main source for generating electricity nowadays in some countries. The effect of impact of heavy fully loaded aeroplane such as (Boeing 747-200c) causes leakage of the radiation through the cracks generated on the external RC containment of NPPs, and this leads to severe damage for humans and cities. In this research paper, external RC containment is modeled using ANSYS and hit by Boeing 747-200c which is the heavier aeroplane compared to other jets and causes severe damage for external RC containment. In addition, the impact location for Boeing 747-200c is considered at 30 m vertical height. RC containment response was studied after the impact of an aeroplane and a proposed structural health monitoring technique is applied using embedded sensors in order to detect and locate the embedded cracks that is generated due to the effect of impact of heavy aeroplane. It was concluded that RC containment is intact except for the impact region which is damaged. An experimental program was applied on a part of the element in ANSYS which is away from the impact region. Four specimens were cast using heavy weight concrete in laboratory. Three cracked specimens consist of different lengths of vertical cracks which represent different times of impact in order to replicate crack propagation as in ANSYS. The cracks are simulated inside laboratory specimens using failure criteria. The parameters used in detecting the cracks for specimens are the percentage change in electrical resistivity and Decimal Logarithm Resistivity Anisotropy (DLRA) at which they give a good indication for the presence of the crack.