Recent progress in the structural mechanics of the plasma facing components for NET

The development of the plasma facing components of the Next European Torus (NET) extends from the conceptual stage to more detailed constructive and operational solutions on the basis of the chosen lines for the predesign and of some new parameters. In this paper the progress made in the structural mechanics activities according to the objectives indicated in the previous SMIRT conference and the major thermomechanical analyses carried out to date for evaluation of the design concepts are reviewed. (orig.)