[en] Pressurized-thermal-shock experiments are required to validate methods of fracture analysis to establish the degree of conservatism or accuracy involved in predictions of flaw behavior under certain accident conditions. By using methods and facilities developed for this purpose we can simulate materials and loading regimes to evaluate the integrity of flawed reactor pressure vessels subjected to pressurized-thermal-shock transients. These accidents involve small-break loss-of-coolant accidents, steamline breaks, and other similar overcooling accident scenarios involving combined temperature and pressure transients