Effect of Irradiation on the Stability and Natural Vibrations of Containment Shells

An approximate approach is proposed to solve the problem on the natural vibrations and stability of an NPP reactor containment. Radiation alters the mechanical properties of such shells and causes volumetric expansion of their material. The problems are solved within the framework of the Timoshenko kinematic hypotheses by reducing shells inhomogeneous throughout the thickness to homogeneous shells with reduced tension–compression, shear, and flexural rigidities