Proceedings of the 2016 24th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering
ICONE24
OUTLINE OF SPECIFICATION FOR COMPOSITE SC WALLS IN NUCLEAR
FACILITIES
Saahastaranshu R. Bhardwaj
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN, USA
sbhardwa@purdue.edu
Taha Al-Shawaf
AREVA Inc.
Naperville, IL, USA
Taha.alshawaf@areva.com
ABSTRACT
Appendix N9 to AISC N690s1 presents the design
provisions for steel-plate composite (SC) walls in safety related
nuclear facilities. AISC N690s1 is Supplement No. 1 to AISC
N690-12 specification for safety related steel structures in
nuclear facilities and was published in October 2015. This paper
discusses the outline of Appendix N9 as well as how the
appendix can be used for the design of SC wall structures.
Appendix N9 establishes the minimum requirements that
SC walls need to meet in order for the specification to be
applicable. The requirements include minimum and maximum
wall thickness and steel reinforcement ratio. Detailing
requirements for SC wall panel sections are also discussed. The
faceplate slenderness requirement to prevent the limit state of
buckling before yielding is provided. Steel anchor requirements
are based on developing adequate composite action, and
preventing interfacial shear failure. Requirements for tie bars
connecting the steel plates (faceplates) are provided to prevent
splitting failure and out-of-plane shear failure. The detailing and
design provisions for regions around openings in SC walls are
also included. Appendix N9 provides a method of checking the
design of SC walls for impactive and impulsive loads.
A discussion of the analysis requirements for SC walls is
presented. The provisions include effective stiffnesses, accident
thermal loading and model parameters for analysis.
The design strength equations for axial tension, axial
compression, out-of-plane shear, out-of-plane flexure, in-plane
shear, and for combined in-plane forces and out-of-plane
moment demands are parts of the provisions of the appendix. The
provisions also include interaction equations for evaluating tie
bars resisting demands due to combination of out-of-plane and
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June 26-30, 2016, Charlotte, North Carolina
ICONE24-60960
Amit H. Varma
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN, USA
ahvarma@purdue.edu
interfacial shear forces. Performance requirements for the
anchorage of SC walls to concrete basemat, SC wall-to-wall
connections and SC walls to floor slab connections are given in
the appendix.
The provisions also include requirements for fabrication,
inspection, and quality control of SC walls constructed for
safety-related nuclear facilities.
INTRODUCTION
Modular SC construction consists of composite concrete
walls. Each wall consists of two faceplates that are anchored to
concrete using steel anchors. The faceplates are connected to
each other using tie bars. There are no reinforcing bars such as
in regular reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. Modular SC
construction reduces the project schedule and labor requirements
significantly. Faceplates eliminate the requirement of external
formwork and reduce congestion in comparison to RC walls by
acting as equivalent reinforcement. A typical SC wall section is
shown in Figure 1.
The lack of a US based design code for SC construction was
a major impediment in the adoption of SC construction in US.
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) formed a sub-
committee in 2006 to develop a specification for design of
modular SC walls in safety-related nuclear facilities. Over the
last nine years, the committee has worked to finalize this
specification as an appendix in AISC N690-12 [1]. This
appendix (Appendix N9) has been issued as a part of N690s1 [2],
which is Supplement No. 1 to AISC N690-12.
 FIGURE 1. TYPICAL SC WALL SECTION [1]
Appendix N9 is applicable to the design of SC walls and
their connections and anchorages. The experimental database
that forms the basis of the provisions is discussed in the
commentary to Appendix N9. The appendix is limited to SC
walls with two faceplates on exterior surfaces and no additional
reinforcing bars. General requirements of the appendix specify
the conditions necessary for applicability of the provisions. SC
wall section detailing requirements address SC specific limit
states of local buckling, interfacial shear failure and section
delamination.
This paper discusses the organization of the appendix and
briefly mentions its provisions. Additionally, the paper aims to
facilitate the usage of the appendix by presenting a flowchart.
The design procedure for SC walls using Appendix N9 is
discussed by means of the flowchart.
LAYOUT AND ORGANIZATION OF APPENDIX N9
Appendix N9 is organized into four major sections. These
sections are further organized into sub-sections. The sections and
sub-sections of the Appendix are discussed below.
N9.1 Design Requirements
This section provides limits of SC parameters for which the
provisions of the appendix are applicable. It discusses the design
basis and the detailing requirements governed by SC specific
limit states. The design and detailing requirements are based on
experimental database, or mechanics. The basis of these
requirements, and relevant research literature are discussed in the
commentary to Appendix N9. The sub-sections under design
requirements are as follow.
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N9.1.1 General Provisions: An SC section needs to
satisfy these requirements in order for the provisions to be
applicable. These provisions include upper and lower limits for
SC wall thickness (tsc), reinforcement ratio (ρ), and material
strengths. SC behavior requirements (e.g., ensuring composite
action) that need to be satisfied are mentioned in this sub-
section.. Provisions for steel ribs and splices are also provided in
this sub-section.
In case any of these provisions is not satisfied, the appendix
is not applicable. However, the commentary to the appendix does
provide alternate design methodologies for cases where the
appendix is not applicable.
N9.1.2 Design Basis: This sub-section provides
provisions for dividing the SC walls (for design purposes) into
interior regions and connection regions, determination of
required strength and considering second-order effects of
structures.
N9.1.3. Faceplate Slenderness Requirement: The
provisions of this sub-section limit the spacing of ties and steel
anchors to ensure the SC specific limit state of faceplate buckling
does not occur before faceplate yielding. The requirement is
based upon experimental database and is discussed in the
commentary to Appendix 9 based on Zhang et al. [3]
N9.1.4. Requirements for Composite Action: This sub-
section provides basis for classifying steel anchors as yielding or
non-yielding shear connectors. It also limits the spacing of steel
anchors to develop the yield strength of faceplates and prevent
interfacial shear failure before out-of-plane shear failure as
discussed in Zhang et al. [3].
 N9.1.5 Tie Requirements: This sub-section limits the
spacing of tie bars, classifies ties as yielding or non-yielding
shear reinforcement and provides the expression for minimum
tensile strength of tie bars to prevent delamination failure of SC
walls. The development of these requirements is explained in the
commentary to the appendix.
N9.1.6 Design for Impactive and Impulsive Loads:
The provisions for checking the design of SC walls for impactive
and impulsive loads are presented in this sub-section.
Permissible dynamic increase factors for materials, as well as
ductility ratio demands for flexure controlled, shear controlled or
axial compressive loads are given. Methodologies for
determining the response of SC walls to impulsive loads are also
discussed. The commentary to the appendix discusses rational
methods of design for impactive loading [4, 5].
N9.1.7 Design and Detailing around Openings: The
section classifies openings in SC walls as small or large
openings. For each type of opening, design and detailing
provisions are provided to either consider the opening with free
edge or consider the opening edge as fully developed. The
treatment of a bank of small openings is also discussed.
N9.2 ANALYSIS REQUIREMENTS
This section provides the parameters for analysis of the
SC wall for design loads. These include modeling parameters for
the SC panel section, consideration of thermal loads and required
strength determination. The commentary to the appendix
discusses these requirements in detail based on Varma et al. [6].
. The sub-sections for analysis requirements are briefly discussed
below
N9.2.1 General Provisions: Parameters for analysis such as
the type of finite elements to be used, damping ratio to be used
for seismic analysis, second order effects and accident thermal
loads are discussed in this sub-section.
N9.2.2 Effective Stiffness for Analysis: Determination of
effective flexural and shear stiffness by taking into consideration
cracking of concrete due to accident thermal conditions. The
effect of concrete cracking due to accident thermal is discussed
in detail in the commentary based on Booth et al. [7].
N9.2.3 Geometric and Material Properties for Finite
Element Analysis: Geometric and material properties of the
equivalent elastic finite element are defined in this sub-section.
These include poisson’s ratio, thermal expansion coefficient,
thermal conductivity, model section thickness, material elastic
modulus, material density and material specific heat.
N9.2.4 Analyses Involving Accident Thermal Conditions:
This sub-section outlines the procedure for performing accident
thermal analysis. The results from heat transfer analysis serve as
input loads for structural analysis.
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N9.2.5 Determination of Required Strengths: The sub-
section provides limits of averaging of demands obtained from
elastic finite element analysis. The required flexural, axial and
shear strengths for SC panel sections are discussed briefly.
N9.3 DESIGN OF SC WALLS
This section provides expressions for determining the
available strengths of SC panel sections for different demand
types. Tensile strength contribution of concrete and contribution
of steel ribs are ignored.
The basis of expressions for available strengths for
individual demand types is discussed in corresponding sections
of the commentary.
N9.3.1 Uniaxial Tensile Strength: This sub-section refers
Chapter D of specification for structural steel buildings, AISC
360 [8]. The provisions ensure than faceplates yield before
rupturing.
N9.3.2 Compressive Strength: The provisions to determine
compressive strength of SC panel sections refer to Section I2.1b
of AISC 360, with faceplates replacing the steel shape. The
definitions mentioned in this section replace those in AISC 360.
The compressive strength of SC wall panel is discussed in detail
in the commentary based on Zhang et al. [3].
N9.3.3 Out-of-Plane Flexural Strength: The expression for
design flexural strength of SC walls is based on limit state of
yielding of faceplates. The flexural strength of SC wall panel is
discussed in detail in the commentary based on Sener et al. [9].
N9.3.4 In-Plane Shear Strength: The provision for
determining the design in-plane shear strength of SC walls
corresponds to limit state of yielding of faceplates. The in-plane
shear strength of SC wall panel is discussed in detail in the
commentary based on Varma et al. [10] and Ozaki et al. [11].
N9.3.5 Out-of-Plane Shear Strength: The out-of-plane shear
strength of SC panel sections is determined by project-specific
large scale tests, applicable test results or the provisions of this
section. The available strength has contributions from steel and
concrete and depends on the spacing between the shear
reinforcement and type of shear reinforcement (yielding or non-
yielding type). The out-of-plane shear strength of SC wall panel
is discussed in detail in the commentary based on Sener & Varma
[12].
N9.3.6 Strength under Combined Forces: This section
provides expressions to limit the interaction of out-of-plane
shear and interfacial shear forces. For interaction of in-plane
forces and out-of-plane moments, interaction equations are
provided in principal stress space. Alternatively, the interaction
of these forces and moments can also be checked using the in-
plane membrane forces directly. The interaction of in-plane
forces and out-of-plane moments of an SC wall panel is
discussed in detail in the commentary based on Varma et al. [13].
 N9.3.7 Strength of Composite Linear Members in
Combination with SC walls: Linear composite members can be
used with SC walls. The design has to be as per Chapter I of
AISC 360 [8].
N9.4 DESIGN OF SC WALL CONNECTIONS
This section specifies the types of SC connections possible
and addresses the design requirements for these connection
types. Connection design philosophy and required and available
strengths of the connections are presented in this section.
N9.4.1 General Provisions: The provisions of this sub-
section discuss when a connection is to be treated as fixed or
pinned. Permissible connector types are also discussed. The
section also establishes permissible force transfer mechanisms.
N9.4.2 Required Strength: The required strength of the
connection is based on the connection design philosophy. The
required strength of connections is determined as:
a) 125% of the smaller of the corresponding nominal
strengths of the connected parts
or,
b) 200% of the required strength due to seismic loads plus
100% of the required strength due to non-seismic loads
(including thermal loads).
N9.4.3 Available Strength: This sub-section references the
applicable provisions for determining the available connector
strength for different types of connectors.
ADDITIONS TO N690-12
In order to incorporate Appendix N9 into AISC N690,
additions or updates have been made to some chapters of N690-
12. These modifications are briefly discussed in this section.
NA2. REFERENCED SPECIFICATIONS, CODES AND
STANDARDS
American Concrete Institute (ACI), American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and ASTM International
(ASTM) specifications cited in Appendix N9 have been added to
this section.
NA3. MATERIAL
ASTM materials cited in Appendix N9 have been added to
this section.
NB2. LOADS AND LOAD COMBINATIONS
This section contains the updated load combinations to
consider fluid and soil loads. Load factors for some loads have
also been updated based on RG1.142 [14]
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NB3. DESIGN BASIS
A reference to Appendix N9 has been added in the main text
for design of SC walls for impactive and impulsive loads.
NM2. FABRICATION AND CONSTRUCTION
Provision for welding of SC wall elements to ASME Class
MC components have been added. Dimensional tolerances for
SC walls during fabrication, fit up, erection of modules, before
concrete placement and after concrete curing have been provided
in this section.
NN6. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INSPECTION OF
COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION
Inspection requirements for SC walls before and after
concrete placement have been provided in this section.
DESIGN OF SC WALLS USING APPENDIX N9
In order to facilitate the use of Appendix N9, a flowchart has
been provided in the commentary to Appendix N9. The
flowchart has been reproduced in Figure 2 and Figure 3, and
discussed briefly below.
In order to design an SC wall structure using Appendix N9,
the designer needs to first ensure that the SC wall parameters
comply with the requirements of Section N9.1.1. Once these
requirements are met, faceplate slenderness requirements of
Section N9.1.3 are checked. Steel anchor and tie bar detailing
requirements of Sections N9.1.4 and N9.1.5 are then checked.
For determining the demands for the SC wall, analysis is
performed based on provisions of Section N9.2. The required
strengths are compared with available strengths determined per
the provisions of Section N9.3. SC wall connections are designed
per Section N9.4. The design of SC wall is then checked for
impactive and impulsive loads per Section N9.1.6. The detailing
and fabrication tolerances for SC walls are specified as per
Sections N9.1.7 and Chapter NM of AISC N690. The quality
assurance and control of the constructed SC wall is as per
Chapter NN of AISC N690.
SUMMARY
This paper presented the outline and organization of the
specification for deign of modular steel plate composite (SC)
construction. The publication of the Supplement No. 1 to N690-
12 provides an ANSI standard for design and construction of SC
wall structures. This specification is a valuable tool in the
implementation of modular composite construction in nuclear
facilities.
AISC is currently in the process of developing a design
guide to further enable the use of this specification. This design
guide will explore the provisions of this specification in detail
and discuss different possible design methodologies.
 Begin design of structure with SC walls

1. Check that SC section thickness, reinforcement ratio, faceplate thickness, and steel and
concrete grades satisfy the limitations of Section N9.1.1.
2. Check that applicable requirements of Section N9.1.1 are satisfied.

Are the No
Appendix N9 is
requirements of
not applicable.
N9.1.1 satisfied?

Yes

Check that faceplate is nonslender (Section N9.1.3)

Provide composite action using steel anchors.

Classify connectors as yielding or nonyielding type using Section N9.1.4a.
Check spacing of steel anchors using Section N9.1.4b

Provide structural integrity using ties.

Check tie spacing using Section N9.1.5.
Check tie spacing in regions around openings using Section N9.1.7.
Classify ties as yielding or nonyielding using Section N9.1.5a.
Ties contribute to out-of-plane shear strength of SC walls according to Section N9.3.5
Calculate minimum required tension strength for ties using Section N9.1.5b.

Develop elastic finite element (EFE) model according to Sections N9.2.1 and N9.2.3.
Analyze EFE model for load and load combinations from Section NB2.
1. Model openings using Section N9.1.7.
2. Model flexural and shear stiffness of SC walls using Section N9.2.2.
3. Loading due to accident thermal conditions will be as per Section N9.2.4.
4. Model second-order effects using Section N9.1.2b.
5. Talk

Continued in Figure 3

FIGURE 2. FLOWCHART TO FACILITATE USE OF APPENDIX N9-PART 1 [2]

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 Continued from Figure 2

Perform EFE analysis to calculate design demands and required strengths.

Identify interior and connection regions using Section N9.1.2

Design Process for SC Walls: Required strengths ≤ Available strengths

1. Calculate required strengths for each demand type using Section N9.2.5
2. Calculate available strengths for each demand type using Section N9.3. The sub-sections
are:
a) Available uniaxial tensile strength using Section N9.3.1
b) Available compressive strength using Section N9.3.2
c) Available out-of-plane flexural strength using Section N9.3.3
d) Available in-plane shear strength using Section N9.3.4
e) Available out-of-plane shear strength using Section N9.3.5
f) Check available strength for combined forces using Section N9.3.6
1. Combined out-of-plane shear demands using Section N9.3.6a
2. Combined in-plane membrane forces and out-of-plane moments using Section
N9.3.6b

Design Process for SC Wall Connections

1. Select connection design philosophy and design force transfer mechanisms for
connections as per Section N9.4.1.
2. Calculate connection required strength in accordance with Section N9.4.2
3. Calculate connection available strength using Section N9.4.3
4. Check connection required strength ≤ connection available strength

Check SC wall design for impactive and impulsive loads in accordance with Section N9.1.6

Fabrication, Erection and Construction Requirements

1. Specify detailing for regions around openings using Section N9.1.7
2. Specify dimensional tolerances for fabrication of SC wall panels, sub-modules, and
modules using Chapter NM

Specify quality assurance/quality control requirements for SC walls in accordance with Chapter NN

End design of structure with SC walls

FIGURE 3. FLOWCHART TO FACILITATE USE OF APPENDIX N9-PART 2 [2]

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 REFERENCES
[1] ANSI/AISC N690, 2012, “Specification for Safety-
Related Steel Structures for Nuclear Facilities”, American
Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago, IL.
[2] ANSI/AISC N690s1, 2015, “Specification for Safety-
Related Steel Structures for Nuclear Facilities Supplement No.
1”, American Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago, IL.
[3] Zhang, K., Varma, A.H., Malushte, S., and Gallocher, S.,
2014, “Effects of Shear Connectors on the Local Buckling and
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2013.08.035
[4] Bruhl, J., and Varma, A.H., 2015, “Missile Impact
Behavior and Design of Composite SC Walls.” International
Journal of Impact Engineering, Elsevier Science, Vol. 75, pp. 75-
87, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2014.07.015.
[5] Bruhl, J. C., Varma, A. H., and Kim, J. M., 2015, “Static
Resistance Function for SC Walls Subjected to Missile Impact.”
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2012, “Analysis Recommendations for Steel-Composite Walls
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[7] Booth, P.N., Varma, A.H., Malushte, S., and Johnson,
W., 2007, “Response of Modular Composite Walls to Combined
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