The life-limiting aspects of the reactor pressure vessels

The reactor pressure vessel deserves a special attention in the studies related to the life extension of a nuclear power plant, due to the fact that its replacement would be very difficult, if not impossible, and that the failure of this component would have catastrophic consequences. The present paper is dedicated to the life-limiting aspects of this essential component and concentrates on the following topics: - review of the different degradation mechanisms affecting the reactor pressure vessel of a pressurized water reactor; - monitoring of this degradation; - influence of these degradation mechanisms on the operation and on the life time of the units; - remedial actions that are available to mitigate this degradation or even reverse it.