B6 / B16 Pile Chimneys - Sellafield

As part of a project to decommission and dismantle the Windscale Pile Chimneys S.W.A. were appointed to undertake a detailed seismic analysis and structural assessment of the chimneys. The purpose of this work was to determine a residual safe height of chimney at which the structure will remain substantially undamaged under the action of a defined seismic event.

The seismic analysis was particularly concerned with examining secondary response modes of the chimney associated with ovalling of the cross-section. In order to capture the ovalling response it was necessary to create a fully explicit finite element model of the chimney for dynamic analysis using the response spectrum method.

The structural assessment examined the withstand capability of the chimney taking into account potential degradation of the structure due to chloride ingress and carbonation of concrete over a further 30 year life span.

SWA Services

• Seismic Analysis
• Structural Assessment