8. Application examples

8.1 Heat exchanger behavior: optimizing steam generator inspection

This example is intended to demonstrate the value of structural reliability analysis. It is not an illustration of the OMF approach, nor of the RBI (risk-based inspection, § 8.3 ) approach, although such an analysis is essential for the latter.

Steam generators are heat exchangers between the primary and secondary circuits of pressurized water nuclear power plants. They comprise 3,000 to 5,000 U-shaped tubes,...