ASME QME-1–2012

earthquake environment, these factors should be consid- by use of the peak spectral acceleration of the applicable
ered and incorporated as required. required response spectrum or the ZPA if the component
can be shown to be rigid. A coefficient of 1.5 times these
(12) QR-A5610 Required Input Motion. The test input
peak values is often used to account for multimode and
motion in terms of accelerations, velocities, or displace-
multiple frequency response. However, values less than
ments is expressed as a function of frequency, which is
1.5 may be used if justified (QR-A3000).
applied in the form of a continuous series of sine beats
or sinusoids at defined amplitudes and durations over
the frequency range of interest (typically 1 Hz to 33 Hz) QR-A6000 SEISMIC QUALIFICATION
and shall be consistent with the requirements of IEEE REQUIREMENTS
Std 344-1987 (QR-A3000).
The seismic qualification of active mechanical equip-
(12) QR-A5620 Response Spectrum. The response spec- ment should demonstrate Non-mandatory
the ability of the active
trum provides information on the maximum response mechanical equipment toAppendix
perform its specified function
of single-degree-of-freedom oscillators as a function of during and/or after the time it is subjected to the earth-
oscillator frequency and damping when subjected to an quake loadings defined in the seismic qualification spec-
input time history motion. The frequency content as well ification. The most commonly used methods for seismic
as the peak amplitude ZPA of the input motion are also qualification of active mechanical equipment are
indicated. described in this document. The methods are grouped
It is important to recognize that the response spectrum into the following five general categories:
does not supply the following information:
(a) predict and evaluate the active mechanical equip-
(a) the unique waveform or time history of the excita-
ment’s performance by analysis
tion that produced it
(b) test the active mechanical equipment under simu-
(b) the duration of motion (this shall be given sepa-
lated seismic conditions
rately in the SQS)
(c) qualification of the active mechanical equipment
(c) the response of any particular active mechanical
by extrapolation of tests or analysis results from similar
equipment during a test
equipment (similarity)
The application of different waveforms shall meet the
(d) qualify the active mechanical equipment by use
requirements of IEEE Std 344-1987 (QR-A3000).
of earthquake experience data
QR-A5630 Time History. The expected form of the (e) perform evaluations of the active mechanical
motion is generally obtained from existing or artificially equipment by combined analysis, test, and/or experi-
generated earthquake records. It may also be generated ence data
such that its response spectrum will essentially match Each of the preceding methods may be used to verify
a given response spectrum. For application at any floor, the ability of the active mechanical equipment to meet
the time history record generated includes the dynamic the seismic qualification requirements. The choice
filtering and amplification effects of the building and should be based on the practicality of the method for
other intervening support structures. the type, size, shape, and complexity of the equipment,
The mean squared amplitude per unit frequency of the available database, whether the required safety func-
the vibratory motion is characterized in terms of the tion can be assessed in terms of structural integrity alone,
Power Spectral Density, PSD, as a function of frequency. and the reliability of the conclusions. When the specified
Although, unlike the time history, the PSD function functions of active mechanical equipment require a dem-
does not define the unique waveform or duration of the onstration of functionality during the earthquake, the
excitation, it is a valuable tool. It enables significant active mechanical equipment specified function shall be
frequency-dependent properties of the motion to be seen demonstrated during the strong-motion portion of the
at a glance from one curve. If only one time history is earthquake.
used to match a given required response spectrum, the The effects of active mechanical equipment repairs
PSD should be used to ensure proper frequency content and part replacements on the performance of active
of the time history. mechanical equipment in the qualification programs
(12) QR-A5640 Acceleration or Equivalent Static Load shall also be considered.
Design Values. Components or active mechanical
equipment may be qualified analytically by applying a QR-A6100 Design Basis Earthquake
limiting acceleration design value (ADV) to the mass The Design Basis Earthquake for which active
distribution of the component or equipment in order to mechanical equipment shall be qualified is the SSE. Seis-
determine limiting equivalent static forces in all three mic qualification for functionality for the OBE shall be
orthogonal directions. The ADV shall be provided in the conducted if required in the Seismic Qualification
Seismic Qualification Specification (QR-A8200). When a Specification by the Owner or designee. In such
response spectrum is specified, the ADV is determined instances, the methods and procedures contained in this

11
Copyright c 2013 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
No reproduction may be made of this material without written consent of ASME.
 ASME QME-1–2012

spectra techniques, as provided in QR-A6300, are recom- For the latter option, the maximum displacement of
mended for qualification rather than the RIM test proce- each support shall be predicted by the relationship
dure just described, unless the RIM has been
conservatively established with regard to the RRS. Zd p Zag/w2

QR-A6500 Acceleration or Equivalent Static Load where

Design Values g p gravitational constant
w p equal to the predominant frequency of the pri-
Active mechanical equipment may be seismically mary support structure in radians per second
qualified analytically by use of acceleration design val- Za p spectral acceleration in g at the ZPA end of the
ues (ADV) used to develop equivalent static loads. These spectrum curve
are single value accelerations which shall be applied
statically to the active mechanical equipment in accor- The relative displacements between supports shall be
dance with the mass distribution simultaneously along determined by using the square root sum of squares
the two principal horizontal and vertical directions. method if it is demonstrated that they are uncorrelated.
Resultant limiting stresses, deflections, and reactions are Otherwise, they shall be determined by the absolute
combined with other applicable load phenomena and sum method.
evaluated against the applicable acceptance criteria to For in-line components (e.g., valves) supported by
demonstrate design adequacy. The ADV are determined both the line and primary structure, relative displace-
as a function of the peak of the applicable required ments shall be determined by the absolute sum method.
response spectrum or from the ZPA of the required
response spectrum if rigidity can be demonstrated. The QR-A6700 Loads to Be Considered in Qualification
response spectral peak value should be multiplied by a
suitable coefficient that accounts for the potential effects The loads to be considered in the seismic qualification
of higher modes or incomplete or missing modes associ- of active mechanical equipment are defined in the
ated with static versus dynamic mode shapes. For active Qualification Specification. They shall be made part of
mechanical equipment supported at more than two the Seismic Qualification Specification required to seis-
points, a coefficient of 1.5 shall be used unless adequate mically qualify the required function or performance of
justification for a lower value is provided. the active mechanical equipment.

QR-A6800 Fatigue and Aging Considerations

(12) QR-A6600 Differential Support Motion
In addition to the inertial loading developed from QR-A6810 Fatigue. Equipment qualification for (12)
seismic accelerations, additional loads may be induced multiple seismic events of lower levels than the required
on active mechanical equipment supported at two or response spectrum, such as five OBEs, is achieved when
more points which are undergoing relative support applying the methods of this Section to the evaluation
motion associated with the motion of the supporting of the single enveloping required response spectrum,
structures. In general, Non-mandatory Appendix
most active mechanical equip- provided the equipment is shown to have no credible,
ment is supported at a single point or because of the low-cycle fatigue failure modes considering the number
relatively high stiffness and required elastic response to of specified earthquake cycles. For applications that
earthquake motions of nuclear facility structures, differ- involve fatigue-sensitive features, supplementary analy-
ential support motions are usually negligible and have sis is required.
little effect on the seismic-induced forces on equipment. Seismic loads, being vibratory in nature, give rise to
Therefore, differential support motions are not normally cyclic loading of components; hence, there is a potential
considered in the seismic evaluation of active mechani- for fatigue-type failures. However, the number of maxi-
cal equipment, except for active mechanical equipment mum stress cycles from a given earthquake is limited.
or a component that is supported at three or more points This Appendix assumes for ASME Class 1 components
on the same structure, at two or more points on different that there are 60 full-stress cycles during the facility life.
structures, or between in-line components and the sup- This cyclic input assumes the potential of five OBEs or
porting structure. In these cases, the active mechanical aftershocks and one SSE.
equipment qualification shall consider the effects of dif- Other cyclic loads induced on the mechanical equip-
ferential support motions. ment by valve operation, equipment start or stop, flow,
or rotating equipment vibration and temperature ranges
QR-A6610 Evaluation for Differential Support shall be considered in evaluating the overall fatigue life
Motions. The maximum relative support displace- of the component or otherwise be limited to such a low
ments can be obtained from the supporting structure magnitude that they do not exceed the endurance limit
structural response calculations or by using the applica- for the material used in the equipment [e.g.,
ble floor response spectra. ASME OM-S/G; see QR-A3000].

14
Copyright c 2013 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
No reproduction may be made of this material without written consent of ASME.
 ASME QME-1–2012

mode shapes. These dynamic characteristics are depen- (e) documentation of the qualification process
dent on parameters such as the following:
QR-A7410 Characterization of Earthquake Experience
(a) active mechanical equipment physical dimensions
Motions
(b) active mechanical equipment weight, its distribu-
tion, and center of gravity QR-A7411 Earthquake Motions. The earthquake
(c) active mechanical equipment structural load experience ground motions shall be characterized as
transferring characteristics and stiffness to resist seismic follows:
excitation (a) Ground motion recordings or conservative esti-
(d) active mechanical equipment base anchorage mates from a minimum of four reference sites containing
strength and stiffness to ensure structural integrity and reference active mechanical equipment are required to
adequate boundary conditions establish a reference active mechanical equipment class.
(e) active mechanical equipment interfaces with adja- The four reference sites should be selected from at least
cent items or connecting accessories, such as cables and four earthquakes.
conduits (b) The free field ground motion of each reference
Assurance shall be obtained that active mechanical site should be established by recorded data within two
equipment modifications from previously qualified structural diameters of the site structure location. The
active mechanical equipment do not effect a change in recording location should have the same geological/
the dynamic response characteristics of the item being geotechnical conditions as the reference site structure
qualified compared with the item used for similarity. location. The measurement of two structural diameters
starts at the perimeter of the foundation. Estimates of
QR-A7333 Function. Active mechanical equip- free field ground motion for a reference site more distant
ment being qualified may be required to perform a safety than two structural diameters from the recording loca-
function during and/or after an earthquake. The tion or where there are no nearby recorded data may
required function during the earthquake may, or may be made, provided that the estimates are conservatively
not, be the same as after the earthquake. Therefore, for derived and justified. To make the ground motion esti-
each qualification, the required function shall be defined mates for these two cases, multiple attenuation relation-
during and/or after the earthquake. The available quali- ships developed using strong-motion recordings from
fication data shall provide documented evidence to sup- earthquakes with similar tectonic environments, crustal
port the demonstration of proper functionality, as properties, and seismological parameters are to be used.
defined, for each application. Where an active function, The range of parameters used to develop the attenuation
or absence of a spurious function, is required during the relationship shall encompass those of the reference site
earthquake, the available qualification data shall provide and earthquake. The appropriate level of conservatism
sound evidence that the candidate active mechanical is the average of the 5% critically damped response
equipment will perform as required in the system for spectrum estimate obtained from each attenuation
which it is being qualified. relationship.
(c) The ground response spectrum assigned to a refer-
QR-A7400 Earthquake Experience-Based ence site shall be the average of two orthogonal hori-
Qualification zontal components of the 5% critically damped response
spectra at the reference site.
Procedures are presented in this Section to seismically
(d) The free field motion shall be considered an esti-
qualify active mechanical equipment by comparison
mate of the seismic excitation experienced by the active
with the body of documented equipment performance
mechanical equipment at the reference site.
from facilities that have experienced natural
earthquakes. QR-A7412 Experience-Based Seismic Capacity.
Qualification based on earthquake performance The earthquake experience spectrum (EES) is a response
involves five steps that will be covered in the following spectrum that defines the seismic capacity of a reference
sections: active mechanical equipment class. The EES shall be the
(a) characterization of earthquake motions by a weighed average of the spectrum at each reference site.
response spectrum The weight factor as provided below shall be the ratio
(b) establishment of the earthquake experience-based of the number of independent items at each reference
capacity for a reference equipment class site to the total number of independent items at all
(c) characterization of the reference active mechanical reference sites.
equipment class m

(d) qualification of the candidate active mechanical 兺 Nn An,i

np1
equipment by comparison with the reference active AEES,i p m

mechanical equipment class 兺 Nn

weighted np1

19
Copyright c 2013 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
No reproduction may be made of this material without written consent of ASME.
 ASME QME-1–2012

where Table QR-A7422-1 Reduction Factors

AEES, i p spectral acceleration of the EES, at 5% criti- Number of EES Reduction
cal damping, at frequency i Independent Items Factor
An, i p spectral acceleration, at 5% critical damp-
ing, at reference site n and frequency i 30 1.0
m p number of reference sites, a minimum of 25 0.9
20 0.8
four
15 0.7
Nn p number of independent equipment items at
reference site n
QR-A7420 Characterization of the Reference Active have resulted in seismic-induced failure of the active
Mechanical Equipment Class. A reference active mechanical equipment to maintain its structural integ-
mechanical equipment class is a group of active mechan- rity and perform its specified function at earthquake
ical equipment that shares a range of physical, opera- excitations up to and including the defined seismic
tional, and dynamic characteristics whose performance capacity level.
in earthquakes has been documented. The attributes of Prohibited features should include any attributes that
the active mechanical equipmentNon-mandatory
that constitute the ref-
Appendix
would contribute to fatigue failure from low cycle loads.
erence active mechanical equipment class shall be The rules of this Section apply to active mechanical
defined such that those features important to seismic equipment that may undergo five OBEs or aftershocks
ruggedness can be ensured, and any seismic vulnerabili- and one SSE, resulting in 60 full-range stress cycles dur-
ties can be identified and precluded in the candidate ing facility life. If a component contains items which
active mechanical equipment. These active mechanical could experience a fatigue failure from low cycle loads
equipment ruggedness and vulnerability attributes of (fewer than 60 full-range stress cycles), it shall be evalu-
the reference active mechanical equipment class shall ated in accordance with QR-A6800.
be defined in terms of inclusion rules and prohibited
features, respectively. QR-A7422 Number of Independent Items. The ref-
erence active mechanical equipment class should
(12) QR-A7421 Attributes of Equipment Class. Inclu- include a minimum of 30 independent items that per-
sion rules are the physical and operational characteris- formed satisfactorily. Independent items are compo-
tics that define an acceptable range of equipment nents and equipment which have different physical
physical characteristics, dynamic characteristics, and characteristics or experience different seismic motion
functions for ensuring seismic ruggedness and defining characteristics, e.g., different earthquakes, sites, build-
the bounds of active mechanical equipment included in ings, or orientations/locations in the same building.
a reference equipment class. Where fewer than 30 independent items constitute
The following factors shall also be considered and the reference equipment class, the EES shall be reduced
evaluated when developing inclusion rules: active by the factors given in Table QR-A7422-1 to produce the
mechanical equipment type, weight, features, size and same statistical confidence level as a reference active
shape, function, capacity rating, load path, governing mechanical equipment class comprising 30 independent
industry standards, materials, natural frequencies, items. The number of independent items shall not be
moveable subassemblies, attached items or components, fewer than 15.
and modifications necessary to achieve the defined seis-
mic capacity. Not all these attributes may be applicable QR-A7423 Functionality During Earthquake.
to a particular class of equipment. Where functionality during the earthquake is required
The diversity of features represented in the reference of a candidate equipment, an appropriate justification
active mechanical equipment shall be described in the shall exist in the definition of the reference equipment
inclusion rules. In those cases where diversity is limited, class for this functionality. This justification shall dem-
the reference active mechanical equipment class shall onstrate one of the following:
be narrowed to the specific features represented in the (a) All of the equipment defining the reference equip-
reference active mechanical equipment. In developing ment class performed the required functions during the
a reference equipment class for in-line components, if earthquake.
more than half of the items are judged not to have experi- (b) All of the equipment defining the reference equip-
enced distribution system amplification (i.e., the in-line ment class was functional after the earthquake, and a
component is located immediately adjacent to a distribu- quantitative assessment of functionality during the
tion system support providing seismic restraint), a limi- earthquake is established based on knowledge of the
tation shall be applied in terms of an inclusion rule for required operation of the equipment during the earth-
the reference equipment class. quake and consideration of credible seismic failure
Prohibited features are design details, materials, con- modes (e.g., shaft binding) that may prevent equipment
struction features, or installation characteristics that operation. Experience gained from analysis or testing

20
Copyright c 2013 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
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 ASME QME-1–2012

Since qualification testing usually requires the imposi- (b) comparison of specifications and functions of the
tion of DBE conditions following aging of the nonmetal- nonmetallics to be qualified with those having operating
lic, a common application of experience data in experience data
qualification is the testing at DBE conditions of the non- (c) summary of operating experience data, including
metallic previously used in the actual environment of operating conditions, maintenance records, and
interest. operating history
Without further testing, the experience data shall ade- (d) the logic used to qualify the nonmetallic for its
quately demonstrate that the criteria stated in QR-B6100 intended service based on the available experience data
for demonstration of qualification can be met. (e) limitations on the qualification

QR-B6500 Qualification by Analysis QR-B7200 Documentation for Qualification by

Nonmetallics may also be qualified through the use Analysis
of analysis. Analysis may be used to show that test (a) description of the analytical methods, computer
or experience conditions are more severe than those codes, or mathematical model used and the method of
to which the candidate nonmetallic is to be qualified. verification
Analysis is also used to determine the loads that are to (b) description of the assumptions and empirical data
be applied in the qualification process. It can also be used, along with the appropriate justifications
used to demonstrate that specific load combinations are (c) description of the analytically established per-
appropriate for a given qualification activity. The analyt- formance characteristics and/or the sources of the test
ical techniques used should be based on sound engi- data used to perform the analysis, along with justifica-
neering principles and should have been verified by tion of the data’s applicability to the specific qualifica-
independent means to demonstrate their validity for the tion program
functional characteristic being analyzed. All assump- (d) conclusions, including any limitations on
tions and approximations included in the analyses shall qualification
be clearly defined and justified.
Without further testing, the analysis should ade- QR-B7300 Documentation for Qualification by
quately demonstrate that the criteria stated in QR-B6100 Combined Methods
for demonstration of qualification can be met. When combined methods of qualification are used,
the appropriate requirements of QR-B7100 and
QR-8000 QR-B7200 shall be complied with.
QR-B7000 DOCUMENTATION
In addition to the documentation requirements con- QR-B7400 Documentation of Modifications or
tained in QR-7000, the requirements in QR-B7100 Changes That Can Affect Qualification of
through QR-B7400 shall be met when one of the stated Nonmetallics
methods is used to qualify nonmetallics. All modifications to qualified nonmetallics made dur-
ing the installed life of the component should be docu-
QR-B7100 Documentation for Qualification by mented by the component user. The evaluation of the
Operating Experience modification’s effect to the nonmetallic should be docu-
(a) identification of the specification for the non- mented, as should any requalification that is determined
metallics for which operating experience is available to be necessary.

29
Copyright c 2013 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
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