Methodology of predicting materials failures in advanced nuclear systems

Experiences in the nuclear power plant operation and the fixing of unexpected component failures, originated mainly from corrosion damages, have led to a base methodology of predicting, correcting and preventing failures. Some analogies of the algorithm developed have been extended to the evolution of reliable materials, their testing and database construction in the development of advanced systems for next generation. An illustrative topic was chosen from the materials development and reliability testing carried out in the development of an advanced HTGR for process heat applications. Possibility and issues in making the similar approach in the case of nuclear fusion is also discussed