Durability and Safety of Concrete Structures in Nuclear Power Plants

This report summarises three small projects CONAGE, AGCONT and CONSAFE, all dealing with durability and safety of concrete structures in nuclear power plants. CONAGE allowed for VTT's representation in the OECD/NEA/IAGE Concrete Work Group which organises symposiums and prepares reports on ageing phenomena, degradation, monitoring and reparation of concrete structures in nuclear power plants. CONAGE ended in 2003 but the participation in the work group continued in conjunction with other SAFIR projects. AGCONT, in 2004, focused on studying degradation phenomena in concrete structures of nuclear power plants and identification of critical concrete structures specifically in the Olkiluoto and Loviisa power plants. In addition an estimation was made on the behaviour of concrete structures during severe accidents (LOCA) from the viewpoint of durability and safety. The third project CONSAFE was directed towards a safety management system of concrete structures in nuclear power plants. CONSAFE started in 2005 and continued in 2006 as a subtask in the project CONTECH. A description and an implementation plan for the safety management system was prepared.