Nuclear Design

We have over 50 years of continuous experience engaged in the design of safety-related buildings for the majority of the UK’s fleet of commercially operated nuclear power stations, including Sizewell B and Hinkley B.

The Nuclear Design Team within the Sir Robert McAlpine Design Group provides a variety of innovative cost-effective solutions to our clients within the nuclear sector.

We operate with robust procedures to meet the compliance, controls and security requirements of working within the industry. 

We have over 50 years of continuous experience engaged in the design of safety-related buildings for the majority of the UK’s fleet of commercially operated nuclear power stations, including Sizewell B and Hinkley B.  

More recently we were responsible for the CSDA design for the Nuclear Auxiliary Buildings for the EPR plants at Taishan and Flamanville, the Dry Fuel Storage Building at Sizewell B and the Nitrogen Plants at Hunterston B, Hinkley Point B and Dungeness B.  

The services we offer include: 

  • Ground Engineering 
  • Civil & Structural Design  
  • Structural Analysis  
  • Structural Integrity Assessments 

As well as the design and construction of new facilities, we have a track record of working in highly regulated environments where compliance and security are key, whether at Sellafield, Devonport or on EDF and NDA sites.  

Our Nuclear Design Case Studies

Nuclear Auxiliary Building, Taishan, China

Finite element analysis and reinforcement design of a seismically qualified reinforced concrete building including production of general arrangement and reinforcement requirement drawings.

Sir Robert McAlpine Design Group (MDG) was responsible for the Finite Element modelling and analysis of the cellular reinforced concrete Nuclear Auxiliary Building at Taishan. The analysis was followed by reinforcement design to Eurocode 2 in parallel with the production of a full set of general arrangement drawings.

MDG undertook full FE analysis of the structure including dynamic analysis with over 200 load combinations considered.

 

Client: Areva NP

  

Nuclear design for an auxiliary building
New Nitrogen Plants at Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B

New Nitrogen Plants at Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B

Civil design of seismically-qualified nitrogen storage and vaporisation facilities for Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B nuclear power stations.

Sir Robert McAlpine Design Group (MDG) performed all aspects of the civil design for new nitrogen storage and vaporisation facilities at the two sites, including static and dynamic analysis of the structure and its subgrade, and the design, specification and reinforced concrete detailing of the permanent and temporary works.

Early input from our construction team helped inform the design for buildability and programme aspects.

 

Client: EDF Energy

Sizewell B – Dry Fuel Store building

An award winning building with a seismically qualified foundation to American design codes (ACI code), structural steel frame to Eurocode and a design life of 100 years.

The Sizewell B Dry Fuel Store building is 100m x 60m x 20m high and designed for the storage of spent fuel rods from the power station’s reactor.  Sir Robert McAlpine Design Group (MDG) provided the concept and detailed design including all necessary design deliverables to enable client EDF Energy NGL to construct the building at the constrained operational nuclear site. 

The project received the Institution of Civil Engineers’ East of England’s 2016 Exceptional Merit Award for Technical Excellence and Innovation.

 

Client: EDF Energy

Sizewell B – Dry Fuel Store building
Finite Element Analysis

Finite Element Analysis

The analysis of structures and structural elements subjected to various loadings from self-weight through to dynamic earthquake simulation.

Sir Robert McAlpine Design Group (MDG) has the expertise to undertake FE analysis from simple static considerations of structural components through to full dynamic analysis of entire structures.  The analysis results can be used to design structures in accordance with design standards including Eurocodes and American design codes ACI 318 and ACI 349.

Using a set of fully verified analysis tools, MDG can model and analyse structures in steelwork and concrete, prestressed or conventionally reinforced.  Materials may be standard linear models or be developed to include temperature and/or time dependent properties to allow representation of non-linear effects such as creep, varying stiffness and crack prediction.

Experience includes the full dynamic analysis of the Nuclear Auxiliary Building for Taishan Nuclear Power Station, new Nitrogen Plants at Hunterston B, Hinkley Point B and Dungeness B, and the Dry Fuel Store at Sizewell B. 

 

 

 

Nuclear Design and Construction Legacy

 Company  Design Construction Commenced Gross Output MW (e) Type
SRM Bradwell 1957 347 Magnox
Taylor Woodrow Hinkley Point 'A' 1957 560 Magnox
SRM Dungeness 'A' 1960 571 Magnox
Taylor Woodrow Sizewell 'A' 1961 653 Magnox
SRM Oldbury 1962 626 Magnox
Taylor Woodrow Wylfa 1963 1310 Magnox
SRM Hinkley Point 'B' 1967 1320 AGR
SRM Hunterston 'B' 1967 1320 AGR
Taylor Woodrow Hartlepool 1968 1320 AGR
Taylor Woodrow Heysham 1 1970 1320 AGR
Nuclear Design Associates (SRM/TW JV) Heysham 2 1980 1320 AGR
Nuclear Design Associates (SRM/TW JV) Torness 1980 1320 AGR
Nuclear Design Associates (SRM/TW JV) Sizewell 'B' 1988 1155 PWR

 

Our nuclear experience

  1. Building an Infrastructure Legacy

    From the pioneering railways and viaducts of the Victorian era constructed by our founder, we continue to build on our legacy of infrastructure projects with the delivery of today’s essential highway and rail networks.

    Read more about Building an Infrastructure Legacy
  2. Sellafield at Dusk

    Nuclear

    From the design and construction of the UK’s original fleet of nuclear power stations, through a continued presence at Sellafield between 1984 and 2017, to the provision of civil design services for Sizewell B, Hunterston B, and Hinkley B, we have a proud history of delivering projects in the nuclear industry.

    Read more about Nuclear