Impact of geotechnical conditions associated with problematic soils on the structural integrity of SMRs in Canada.

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In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the energy sector and position Canada in an emerging global market, the Government of Canada recently announced a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Action Plan for a wide range of applications, from grid-scale power generation to heavy industrial and remote community use. However, the potential construction and operation of SMRs in Canada requires a licence from the CNSC, Canada's nuclear regulator. In support of its application to the CNSC for a licence, the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed activities will ensure the protection of the public and the environment. Nuclear facilities are designed to very high standards. In the event of extreme events and conditions, it must be demonstrated that the facilities not only maintain their structural integrity, but also minimize the release of radionuclides. In Canada, SMR could be developed under different types of geotechnical (e.g., problematic soils) and environmental (climate) conditions. These conditions must be considered in the siting and design of RMS to ensure the structural integrity and safety of RMS. However, to date, it is not known how the aforementioned problematic soils and geotechnical conditions might affect the structural integrity of RMS. This represents a significant barrier to the development of SMR technology in Canada as well as a safety issue. The proposed research project aims to investigate how the above-mentioned geotechnical soil conditions will affect the structural integrity of generic SMR embedded in these soil types under different loading and environmental conditions, as well as to develop engineering tools and techniques to assess and predict the geotechnical and environmental effects on the design and operation of SMR. The outcomes of this project will provide science-based independent knowledge to the CNSC in order to input to safety standards and requirements for SMRs and to make informed licensing recommendations in future licensing applications. Moreover, this project will also allow for the training of highly qualified people in this strategically important sector.