FP7 project LONGLIFE: Treatment of long term irradiation embrittlement effects in RPV safety assessment

In view of the increasing age of the European NPPs and envisaged life time extensions up to an EOL of 80 years, there is a need for an improved understanding of RPV irradiation embrittlement effects specific to long term operation (LTO). The project aims at: 1) improved knowledge on LTO phenomena relevant for European reactors; 2) assessment of prediction tools, codes, standards and surveillance guidelines. The scope of work comprises the analysis of LTO boundary conditions, microstructural investigations (e.g. LBP) and supplementary mechanical tests (e.g. RPV steels from decommissioned plants), training activities and elaboration of recommendations for RPV materials assessment and embrittlement surveillance under LTO conditions. The duration of the collaborative project will be 36 months with 15 partners participating.