Developments in assessing creep behaviour and creep life of components

Assessment of components for behaviour and life in the creep regime can arise both for as-new and inservice structures. The latter is generally more demanding, not only because of material ageing and possible growth of damage, but also due to frequently limited input information and less specific normative framework than for design. Regardless of whether the component has been observed (or assumed) to contain defects or not, the assessment procedures and the background tools have been developing considerably from the time when currently operating vintage components were first taken to service. The Working Group on Components of ECCC/AC is preparing overviews of the current methods and experience on component assessment. This effort is supported by application examples on component assessment and validation testing, as well the field experience from ex-service components.