NEA (2017), Final Report on the Phase 1 of the Assessment of Structures Subjected to Concrete Pathologies (ASCET), OECD Publishing, Paris
Taking into account life extension, concrete degradation becomes one of the main issues for long-term operation (LTO). Concrete pathologies/degradation mechanisms – alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR), delayed ettringite formation (DEF), irradiated concrete, sulfate attack, reinforcing steel corrosion, freezing and thawing cycles – have been detected in concrete nuclear facilities in several NEA member countries which might very likely affect their performance and the residual lifetime.
The workshop on assessment of structures subjected to concrete pathologies (ASCET) was held at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, Maryland, from 29 June to 1 July 2015. The objective of the CSNI activity proposal sheet (CAPS) and the workshop was to assess the possibilities to define general international recommendations for ageing managements of concrete nuclear facilities subjected to different concrete pathologies/degradation mechanisms. This report describes the results of the ASCET work for assessing the recent requirements and related working methods in countries and looking for the possibilities to harmonise them.