Proactive material degradation research subjects for light water reactors

Predictive and preventive maintenance technologies are increasingly of importance for the long term operation (LTO) of Light Water Reactor (LWR) plants. In order for the LTO to be successful, it is essential that aging degradation phenomena should be properly managed by using adequate maintenance programs based on foreseeing the aging phenomena and evaluating their rates of development. In this paper, topics that are judged necessary for managing aging degradation phenomenon in LWR structural materials and which were discussed in the Proactive Aging Management Experts' Panel Meeting of Tohoku-Hokkaido Research Cluster of NISA Project are introduced. (author)