USE OF R5 IN PLANT DEFECT ASSESSMENT

The R5 defect assessment procedures are widely used to assess componen ts in Nuclear Electric's Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor plant. In this pa per, the use of R5 is illustrated by calculating the creep-fatigue cra ck growth in a specific component. The resulting crack size is compare d with the limiting crack size calculated using R6. The implications o f considering ductile tearing in the latter calculation, the possible interaction of tearing with creep crack growth, and the use of leak be fore break arguments are discussed.