Beyond design seismic assessment advanced methodologies for RC structures: PARC_CL for FEM analyses of nuclear power plants RC structures

In this paper it is presented the PARC_CL fixed crack model (implemented in the user subroutine UMAT.for in Abaqus Code), applied to the non-linear finite element analyses (NLFEA) of reinforced concrete (RC) structures used in nuclear power plants (NPP) under cyclic and dynamic loads. Applications of PARC_CL are presented in this paper: the cyclic analysis of a scaled model of a nuclear containment vessel and the dynamic simulation of a shaking table test of an electrical facility wall structure. The multi-layered shell elements modelling with PARC_CL demonstrated to adequately describe both global and local engineering demand parameters (EDP). Simulations results are provided in terms of displacements, strains and crack patterns. Although the simulations provided good results, some issues such as proper damping calibration in dynamic analysis, wall to foundation interface failure mode description and computational costs are open. Future developments of this research aim also to implement the new PARC_CL2.0 model with plastic strains and to extend it to other FEM codes.