Dr. Rowlands has provided a wide range of services to the nuclear power industry since 1973. He has conducted geological, geotechnical, and seismological investigations for nuclear power projects throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Far East. He has also provided similar services for nuclear facilities operated by the US Department of Energy and the Department of Defense (Naval Reactors). He has thoroughly knowledge of NRC and IAEA guidelines and regulation for nuclear facilities.
Ko-Ri Nuclear Power Plant, South Korea (source: KHNP)
Dr. Rowlands provides the following services to the Nuclear Power Industry:
- Site Selection Support
- Geological and Geotechnical Site Evaluation
- Regional Geologic and Seismic Investigation
- Seismicity and Seismology
- Development of Seismic Design Criteria
- Capable Fault Investigations
- Neotectonics and Geohazards Investigations
- Preparation of Regulatory Submittals for the NRC and IAEA (PSARs)
- Peer Review of FSAR and COLA Submittals
- Peer Review of Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analyses
Links to research papers, presentations, or abstracts follow each category. These examples represent only those studies for which permission has been given for publication. Follow this link to a list of nuclear power related reports (Nuclear Reports.pdf) and this link to a list of nuclear power projects. (Nuclear Projects.pdf)
Site Selection
Dr. Rowlands has conducted regional nuclear power plant site selection studies in Oklahoma, Spain, and South Korea. The principal criteria used for these studies were regional and site geology and seismicity, site geologic hazards, availability of cooling water, proximity of electric power lines, and proximity of the local population. (Landsat.pdf)
Geotechnical Site Evaluation
Dr. Rowlands has extensive experience planning and conducting geotechnical investigations for preliminary site evaluations and detailed site evaluations for final layout and design. Site work experience includes drilling and sampling, in-situ determination of Vp and Vs, geophysical logging, laboratory test designations for samples, pressure testing, determination of porosity and permeability.
Development of Seismic Design Criteria
Dr. Rowlands has extensive experience establishing seismic design criteria for nuclear facilities, specifically the determination of the safe shutdown earthquake (SSE) and the operating basis earthquake (OBE) used to establish the design response spectra. He has experience with sites in central and eastern US, Europe, the Middle East, and Far East.
Capable Fault at a confidential location in South Korea
Capable Fault Investigations
Dr. Rowlands work with capable faults has been primarily for nuclear power plants and large industrial facilities located throughout the world. These investigations include detailed geologic mapping, radiometric age determinations, and paleomagnetic age determinations. Dr. Rowlands is a member of the American Nuclear Society’s working group to prepare the industry standard guideline for the “Identification and Assessment of Capable Faults for Nuclear Facilities.”