Structural analysis in nuclear reactor technology

Maintaining the integrity of the mechanical structures in all postulated loading conditions is imperative for the safe and economic operation of nuclear power plants. Reactor technology involves many specific structural problems, such as behaviour of pressure vessel and penetrations in severe reactor accident scenarios, the validation of leak-before-break principle in pipings, embrittlement of the reactor pressure vessel due to neutron irradiation and mechanical behaviour of nuclear fuel in reactivity transients. These issues of current interest demand specific expertise and specific characteristics in computer codes. The clients and co-workers in the development of this expertise include the Finnish power companies IVO and TVO, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), KTH (the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden) and IPSN (Institut de Protection et de Sucrete Nucleaire, Cadarache, France). Part of the work is carried out in the European Commission's Nuclear Fission Safety research programme.