Numerical simulation and experimental study on mechanical properties of isolation bearings for nuclear island plant

In order to study the mechanical properties such as vertical compression stiffness and horizontal shear stiffness of isolation bearings, as an additional approach for the overall isolation design of nuclear island plant, the full size 1000mm laminated natural rubber bearing (LNR1000) and lead rubber bearing (LRB1000) were tested. Hysteretic curves were obtained by applying vertical and horizontal low cycle reciprocating loads respectively. The Mooney-Rivlin constitutive model was used to analyze the mechanical properties of LNR1000 and LRB1000, and fine finite element simulation and large deformation nonlinear time history analysis were carried out. The results show that the numerical simulation results agree well with the experimental results. Therefore, the numerical calculation method established in this study can provide a practical analysis method for the overall seismic isolation design of nuclear island plant.