Idaho Falls, ID
Idaho National Laboratory, National Reactor Innovation Center Dome
Scope/Solutions
The National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC), headquartered at Idaho National Laboratory, works with industry partners to test advanced nuclear technologies and facilitate their path to commercialization. The Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) test bed was incepted at the NRIC by repurposing the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) facility to host advanced experimental reactor tests while providing safety-significant confinement. SGH provided structural engineering services to adapt the existing containment structure for its new use.
SGH performed seismic analyses and designed modifications to the DOME, comprising a reinforced concrete structure inside a steel vessel, separated above-grade by joint filler material. Highlights of our work include:
- Evaluating the existing structure considering combinations of dead, crane, snow, ice, wind, earthquake, pressure, temperature, nozzle, and internal missile loads
- Performing seismic soil-structure interaction analyses
- Designing structural modifications to repurpose the containment structure for its new use
- Designing steel-framed ice shelters extending out from the structure to protect safety class equipment from falling ice
- Providing engineering support during construction
Project Summary
2026 Anticipated
5k
Key team members
