Integral approach to service life management of NPP concrete infrastructure: From inspection database to predictive durability performance

The effects of ageing of the concrete infrastructure of Finnish nuclear power plants (NPP) are a result of the harsh environmental loading and the severe in service conditions. The concrete infrastructure is an important part of nuclear power plants performing multiple functions such as load-carrying capacity, radiation shielding, and leak tightness. Sufficient accurate information on their long-term performance condition should be readily available so as to be able to demonstrate the durability of the NPP concrete infrastructure, and in estimating their future performance. This provides a solid basis for the decision making process. In response to the requirements of STUK/YVL guidelines and the recommendations of the IAEA for ageing management systems, the ManAge Project was initiated with the objective to produce a proactive service life management system for NPP in Finland, with predictive performance capabilities. The ManAge platform provides access to the structural, material and environmental information, and several user applications that address some of the requirement and need for designers and maintainers of NPP. It assists the nuclear power companies in implementing aging management activities at different phases over the lifetime a power plant. It provides a systematic approach to planning, inspection, monitoring, condition assessment, maintenance and repair of concrete structures. This paper addresses specifically two aspects of the ManAge platform: the inspection database and the application for durability service life and life cycle assessment.