This paper deals with the role of proving tests and a large shaking test facility for equipment and piping systems in conjunction with the development of aseismic design in the field of mechanical engineering, especially for nuclear power plants in Japan. To avoid seismic disaster and damage of equipment and piping systems as well as liquid storages, we had to differentiate the seismic design procedure in mechanical engineering from that for building and civil engineering structures. For this process, the dynamic analysis in this field is more significant than for other fields. The author has been trying to develop aseismic design since the design stage of the first nuclear power plant in 1958 based on his experience as a specialist of mechanical vibration. In the early 1970s, shaking tables were developed for this purpose in Japan. The largest one in Japan is a 1000-ton 2-D table. After the 1995 Kobe earthquake, we have been developing a new 1200-ton 3-D shaking table. In the paper, the author discusses the necessity of such a facility and presents a new concept of a numerical shaking table.

1.
AIJ, 1995, “Preliminary Reconnaissance Report of the 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake” (English Version), Architect Institute of Japan.
2.
Fukao, Y., and Ishihashi, K., eds., 1996, “Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquake Disaster and Prediction of Seismic Hazard” (in Japanese), Kagaku (Science), Iwanami Book Co.
3.
Huntchings, L. F., et al., 1996, “Synthetic Strong Ground Motions for Engineering Design Utilizing Empirical Green’s Function,” UCRL-JC-123762, Lolence Livermore National Lab., Preprint for STS, 11WCEE.
4.
International Atomic Energy Agency, 1979, “Earthquake and Associated Topics in Relation to Nuclear Power Plant Sitting,” 50-SG-S1.
5.
IAEA, 1979, “Seismic Analysis and Testing of Nuclear Power Plants,” 50-SG-S2, 2nd Version, SG-D15.
6.
JSME, 1996, “The Machine and Industrial Equipments. Damages due to the Southern Hyogo-prefecture Earthquake.” (in Japanese), Collection of Photos, Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.
7.
Park, Y. J., and Hofmayer, C. H. eds., 1994, Technical Guidelines for Aseismic Design of Nuclear Power Plants of Japan (transl. of JEAG 4601-1987), NUREG-CR-6241, BNL-NUREG-52422.
8.
Shibata, H., 1970, “Aseismic Design of Nuclear Power Plants—Development of These Ten Years,” Japan Nuclear Science Journal, JAERI, NSJ-Tr.161.
9.
Shibata
H.
, et al.,
1973
, “
On Estimated Modes of Failure of Nuclear Power Plants by Potential Earthquakes
,”
Nuclear Engineering and Design
, Vol.
16
, No.
92
, pp.
205
214
.
10.
Shibata
H.
,
1978
, “
Proving Test of Earthquake Resistant Pipings, Equipment and Active Components
,”
Nuclear Engineering and Design
, Vol.
46
, No.
1
, pp.
169
180
.
11.
Shibata
H.
,
1993
, “
Recent Development of Aseismic Design Practice of Equipment and Piping Systems in Japan
,”
Journal of PV & P
, Vol.
115
, pp.
106
121
.
12.
Shibata, H., 1996, “Reevaluation of Design Basis Earthquake for Critical Industrial Facilities,” Proceedings, 11th World Conference of Earthquake Engineering, No. 340, (CD-ROM).
13.
Shibata, H., et al., 1997, “Outline of Recent Proving Tests on the Seismic Reliability of Components for NPPs in NUPEC,” Trans. of 14 SMIRT, K20/7, Vol. K-II, pp. 279–286.
14.
Shibata
H.
,
1998
, “
Design Basis Earthquake for Critical Industrial Facilities and their Characteristics, and Southern Hyogo-prefecture Earthquake, January 17, 1995
,”
Reliability Engineering and System Safety
, Vol.
62
, No.
3
, pp.
157
167
.
15.
Shimizu
N.
, et al.,
1990
, “
Evaluation of Time-Integration Methods
” (in Japanese),
Trans. of Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
, C, Vol.
56
, No.
522
, pp.
374
382
.
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.