EVOLUTION OF SEISMIC DESIGN

BASIS FOR INDIAN NUCLEAR

POWER PLANTS

Prabir C. Basu
AERB, India
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

Outline
Introduction
Evolution of seismic design basis
Design basis for seismic re-evaluation
Design basis for future reactors
Concluding remarks

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

Introduction

NPP program commenced in

India in 1969 with commissioning
of TAPP-1&2 (BWR) at Tarapur.
Subsequently NPPs (PHWR)
were designed (indigenously),
constructed commissioned and
being operated.
Status of engineering of new
generation power reactors
VVER 1000: finishing stage of
construction
PFBR 500: Advanced stage of
construction,
PHWR 700: advanced design stage

NPP locations in India

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

Evolution of seismic design basis

60% of the land area in India is considered susceptible
to earthquake shaking of intensity VII and above.
Three distinct stages from a regulatory perspective
1. Pre-regulatory stage
2. Incipient regulatory stage
3. Present stage
4. New stage for future generation of NPP

The regulatory authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory

Board (AERB), was formed in 1983.
Regulatory practices of seismic safety, have undergone
continuous evolution and improvement over the years.
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

Evolution of seismic design basis

Pre-regulatory stage

This stage covers the NPPs designed / constructed /

commissioned before the formation of AERB.
The seismic design basis for the reactors in this stage
generally followed Indian Standard (IS) codes of
industrial units.
NPPs of this stage are,
TAPS1&2 (BWR), Tarapur.
Seismic loading was determined following IS875 1957. All
structures and mechanical components of the station and
buildings be designed to resist a horizontal force equivalent to
0.10 times the gravity load.
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

Evolution of seismic design basis

Pre-regulatory stage

RAPS 1&2 (PHWRs), Kota

According to IS875 1057 the site was not prone to seismic
activity as it fell in geologic zone I. and not prone to seismic
activity. Severe earthquakes of Kutch (1894) and Bihar (1934)
were felt here. These earthquakes were estimated to generate
horizontal acceleration of 0.4g. Considering this the NPP was
designed for horizontal load up to 0.05 times gravity load.
MAPS 1&2 (PHWRs), Kalpakkam
The site falls in the In zoneI of IS1893 1966. A few temmor
occurred in areas at about 25 Km away from the site in
past.Taking this into account the containment building was
designed for a horizontal seismic coefficient of 0.1g and
remaining plant structures for 0.05g.
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

Evolution of seismic design basis

Incipient regulatory stage

This stage covers NPP commissioned after formation of

AERB but designed and constructed prior to AERB.
During this stage, AERB siting code AERB/SC/S and
safety guide on determination of DBGM parameters
AERB/SG/S11 were prepared and published.
SSE or SL-2 level and OBE or SL-1 level were
considered. DBGM parameters were derived following
similar approach of IAEA / USNRC.
NAPS 1&2 (PHWR), Narora
Horizontal PGA: 0.3g for SSE and 0.15g for OBE

KAPS 1&2 (PHWR), Kakrapar

Horizontal PGA: 0.2g for SSE and 0.1g for OBE
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

Evolution of seismic design basis

Present stage

AERB published Code of Practice on Safety of Nuclear

Power Plant Siting, AERB/SC/S in 1990, and Safety
Guide on Seismic Studies and Derivation of Design
Basis Ground Motion Parameters, AERB/SG/S-11.
These two regulatory documents are the requirements
and guidelines for derivation of DBGM parameters of
present stage.
The regulation specifies rejection criteria,
Active fault within 5km radius
Potential of liquefaction, slope instability, ground
failure/subsidence if there is no engineering solution.
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

Evolution of seismic design basis

Present stage

It specifies DBGM in terms of following

PGA
Response spectral shape
Spectrum compatible time history

It provides guidelines on methodology for conducting

seismo-tectonic investigations, deriving the seismic
design basis and also to checking the suitability of the
site from seismic safety consideration.
Guidelines are based on geological and seismological
investigations in four scales, regional (300 km radius),
intermediate range (50km radius), local (5km radius) and
site area (within plant boundary), and MEQ data.
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

Evolution of seismic design basis

Present stage

PGA values of different sites

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

10

Evolution of seismic design basis

Seismic re-evaluation of existing NPP
Derivation of new seismic DBGM parameters of sites
following present regulation for new plant calls for
seismic reevaluation of existing NPP, if any co-located.
Exercise of seismic re-evaluation of old NPPs with the
new seismic design basis has been initiated
PSHA approach was adopted to derive review basis
parameters (uniform hazard spectrum) for seismic reevaluation of fast breeder test reactor (FBTR) at
Kalpakkam.

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

11

Design basis for future NPPs

Work for revision of AERB/SG/S11 has been initiated for
the sites of new reactors of advanced generation.
Guiding factors of the revision are,
Experience gained over the years on seismic safety of NPP.,.
New information/data and advancement on earthquake
engineering
Special requirements of new reactors.

Safety assessment of reactors are gradually becoming

more PSA centric, which invariably results in derivation
of DBGM parameters of new reactors by probabilistic
seismic hazard analysis (PSHA). This is in addition to
the inherent rationality of the method.
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

12

Design basis for future NPPs

Niigataken Chuetsu oki (NCO) earthquake

induced acceleration about three time the design basis
at the Kashwazaki Kariwa NPP (KK-NPP) site. This
raised a probable issue how to deal with the beyond
design basis earthquakes (BDBEq) in new reactors as
well as the existing one.

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

13

Design basis for future NPPs

PSHA
Data/information on strong motion earthquake,
seismotectonic status and site-specific attenuation
relation of the region are requirements for a robust
PSHA
Peninsular India, where most of the Indian nuclear
facilities are located poses unique. challenges in
application of PSHA due to
Sparse data,
Lack of information on seismotectonic characteristics, and
Non-availability of regional specific attenuation relationships.

This calls for innovative approach to conduct PSHA of

the sites in this region.
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

14

Design basis for future NPPs

PSHA
The approach fro PSHA analysis of these sites should
have following characteristics
It is amenable to accommodate all advancement of PSHA
tools like attenuation relation ship
At the same time can take care of uncertainties arising out of
data inadequacy.

PSHA aided by sensitivity study of input and technique

to determine parameters along with logic tree could be
an useful approach.

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

15

Design basis for future NPPs

PSHA
B Value

B value-range

Rate Apportionment

Mmax

Focal Depth

Attenuation
relation
Atkinson, 0.1

Mean-1
0.125
Actual data
0.9

Mean
0.75
Mean+1
0.125

Mean-1
0.125
GSHAP
0.1

Prop. Energy,
0.5

Mean
0.75

Mmax
(max)
0.125
Mmax (mean)
0.75
Mmax (min)
0.125

10 km, 0.25

Abramson, 0.25

20 km, 0.5

Boore, 0.25

30 km, 0.15

Campbell, 0.15

Mixed, 0.1

Sadigh, 0.25

0%, 0.5

25%, 0.3

50%, 0.2

Same b value,
0.5

Prop. Energy,
0.5

Added
dispersion

Atkinson, 0.1
Mmax
(max)
0.125
Mmax (mean)
0.75
Mmax (min)
0.125

Mean+1
Same b value,
0.125
0.5 power plants
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear

0%, 0.5

10 km, 0.25

Abramson, 0.25

20 km, 0.5

Boore, 0.25

30 km, 0.15

Campbell, 0.15

Mixed, 0.1

Sadigh, 0.25

25%, 0.3

50%, 0.2

16

Design basis for future NPPs

PSHA

Spectral Acceleration, 'g'

1.00

UHS

0.10

0.01
0.0100

0.1000

1.0000

10.0000

Period, Sec

Uniform hazard spectra generated for Kalpakkam site,

(Damping = 5%).
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

17

Design basis for future NPPs

Beyond Design basis earthquake
(BDBEq)
Work on BDBA gained momentum after occurrence of
accidents in three mile island and Chernobyl.
New generation NPPs have provisions to address BDBA
scenarios
What provisions should be kept for beyond design basis
earthquakes, BDBEq?
Isuues are
How to define BDBEq?
Approach of management of BDBEq. Will it follow similar one
of BDBA?
Regulatory guidelines

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

18

Design basis for future NPPs

Beyond Design basis earthquake
Factors to be considered to deal BDBEq:

Definition of BDBEq
Evaluation of ground motion
Behavior of plant
Design/evaluation of plant and/or retrofitting
Operating practices
Seismic safety culture

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

19

k
n
a
h
T u
yo
Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

20

Evolution of seismic design basis

Present stage

1. PHWRs at Kaiga, Karnataka (KGS 1 to 4)

2. PHWRs at Rawtbhata near Kota, Rajasthan (RAPS 3
to 6)
3. PHWR at Tarapur, Maharashtra (TAPP 3&4)
4. Prototype fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam,
Tamilnadu (PFBR)
5. Russian VVERs under construction at Kudankulam,
Tamilnadu, (KK-1&2)

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

21

Design basis for future NPPs

(BDBEq)
Design basis earthquake, SSE, is generally derived for
an annual frequency of occurrence of 10-4. For BDBEq,
the frequency of occurrence would be smaller than SSE.
Contribution of seismic induced CDF to total CDF play
an important role

Evolution of seismic design basis for Indian nuclear power plants

22