Non-Linear Design Verification of Nuclear Power Piping According to ASME III NB/NC

A nuclear piping system which is found to be disqualified, i.e. overstressed, in design evaluation in accordance with ASME III, can still be qualified if further non-linear design requirements can be satisfied in refined non-linear analyses in which material plasticity and other non-linear conditions are taken into account. This paper attempts first to categorize the design verification according to ASME III into the linear design and non-linear design verifications. Thereafter, the corresponding design requirements, in particular, those non-linear design requirements, are reviewed and examined in detail. The emphasis is placed on our view on several formulations and design requirements in ASME III when applied to nuclear power piping systems that are currently under intensive study in Sweden.