Anatech - Linking Theory and Practice.

As a contractor for the EPRI/NEI after Setember 11, 2001, ANATECH came to the forefront as a leading competitor in its ability to develop methodologies that could accurately assess structural performance due to extreme energetic loading, such as aircraft impact.  Following up in this capacity, further research and methodologies were implemented for assessing structural performance due to aircraft impact, considering the vulnerabilities of a wide range of structural systems at existing nuclear power plants.  This work provided a basis for the methodologies documented in NEI 07-13 as industry guidelines and is now accepted by the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Regulatory Guide 1.217.

ANATECH has since applied this methodology and experience to provide aircraft impact assessments (AIA) for meeting regulatory requirements for aircraft impact in 10 CFR 50.150 to many new plant designs in both the U.S. and abroad, including the Toshiba-WEC ABWR for STP, GEH ESBWR, AREVA US-EPR, GEH ABWR, MHI US-APWR, NuScale NP-12 SMR, the KEPCO APR-1400 for BNPP 1&2 in UAE, and KEPCO US-APR-1400.  ANATECH has successfully supported the vendors in moving the AIA calculations through the licensing process.  The first USNRC inspection of its kind focused on meeting 10 CFR 50.150 for AIA requirements was hosted at the ANATECH offices in San Diego.  ANATECH maintains computing and storage facilities for handling material designated as Safeguards Information (SGI) by the USNRC.

Much of the same methodology for assessing structural response to energetic impulsive loading had been applied to the analysis of missile and blast loading. This includes explosively generated blast loads on bridges and tunnels, as well as on nuclear containment structures, such as blast loading generated from ex-vessel steam explosions.

ANATECH can provide analysis and engineering support to mitigate the effects of extreme loading due to energetic impulse loading, both for new designs and for retrofitting of existing structures.

ANATECH has performed analyses to evaluate the pressure fragility of primary containment systems for both reinforced concrete containments (RCCV) and prestressed concrete containments (PCCV).  As part of probabilistic risk assessments (PRA), the probability of failure with increasing pressure as a function of temperature is developed using probabilistic methods and detailed, finite-element modeling to evaluate pressure fragility.

In addition to its impact loading evaluations, ANATECH has performed analyses to assess the structural performance of nuclear structures under simulated conditions of severe accidents, such as ex-vessel steam explosions and hydrogen burn.  This supports methodologies required for meeting regulatory requirements. Using the same methodologies, ANATECH can provide assessments of structural performance for severe accidents in other applications, such as chemical plants, gas transmission, or the petroleum industry.

ANATECH has experience in assessing structural performance due to terrorist attacks. This experience encompasses the whole range of services, including identifying potential vulnerabilities, establishing structural performance, and identifying mitigation measures.