MAI Workshop on Lifetime Prediction of LWRs
The MAI organizes in April 8-9, 2010 an international workshop on environmentally-assisted cracking. Experts from various countries are invited to discuss prediction methods and to understand environmentally-assisted cracking which represents a limiting factor for the lifetime of light-water reactor components.
Environmentally-assisted cracking is a limiting factor for the lifetime of light water reactors. Many cases of stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue were reported for Ni-based alloys, stainless steels, zirconium alloys… However, lifetime extension to 60 year is expected. In this context, it is necessary to improve our understanding of degradations usually based on complex coupling between material, loading and environment. Important progress is being made with respect to characterization, understanding and modeling degradation mechanisms in representative operating conditions. Tools are being developed to improve safety and operating conditions of nuclear plants.
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