Experimental analysis of the effect of thermal loads on buckling behavior of FBR main vessel

Under the run operating condition, the effect of high temperature will exist in buckling behavior of FBR main vessel. In this paper, we carry out the experimental analysis of the main vessel with inter heat source; give some important results, and analysis the influence on buckling strength caused by repeated instability accumulative damage, hydraulic pressure and thermal loads. Prove buckling strength reducing due to the reduction of material properties with temperature. The experimental buckling loads agree with the calculated results very well and the reliability of numerical simulation was validated. The buckling mode is studied by photomechanical measurement, in which moire is employed. The experiment provides modelization and value mode for modeling of numerical calculation.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.