ACOUSTICALLY INDUCED VIBRATION IN THERMAL INSULATION CONTAINMENT STRUCTURES FOR ADVANCED GAS COOLED REACTORS.

An account is given of some of the work carried out by The Nuclear Power Group Ltd to develop thermal insulation designs that would withstand the predicted acoustic environments in the Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors being built for the Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B Power Stations. The main features of the insulation acoustic development program are outlined with particular reference to a novel problem associated with the type of structure used. The acoustic response of the most vulnerable part of the insulation containment structure is determined theoretically and this correlates quite well with the results of acoustic tests, both at atmospheric pressure and in high pressure gas, on insulation designs for several different parts of the reactor.