Expert Report on Nominal Sizes and Technologies for Mechanical Splicing of Reinforcing Steel in Global Gen III+ Nuclear Projects.

Structural reinforcement is a critically important component for ensuring the structural integrity and safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs) of the third generation (Gen III+). The highest requirements are imposed on the reinforcement of the reactor containment (containment) and the overall basemat (Basemat).¹ The containment of modern reactors, such as APR1400 or EPR, is a prestressed concrete structure with a steel liner, designed to withstand extreme loads.¹

These extreme loads include internal pressure in the event of an accident, thermal stresses, as well as external effects such as seismic activity, the fall of heavy objects (for example, aircraft), and shock waves. To effectively resist these forces, the reinforcement must provide not only high tensile and compressive strength, but also guaranteed ductility (plasticity) and the ability to dissipate energy under cyclic and seismic loading.³