PSI - Issue 72

Sergio Arrieta et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 72 (2025) 362–369

368

mechanistic understanding and empirical evidence. Exploiting the INCEFA-PLUS project experience, as documented in Vankeerberghen et al. (2018), initial data analysis will be conducted independently by each partner to promote analytical diversity. Subsequently, the Expert Panel will convene regularly to synthesize findings and establish a consensus. Utilizing data generated within the INCEFA-PLUS and INCEFA-SCALE projects, supplemented by external data sources, a novel stress-number of cycles (S-N) curves will be derived for various operational conditions, including the mechanistic influence of environmental factors. The ultimate objective is to significantly advance the assessment of NPP plant component fatigue under realistic operating conditions. INCEFA-SCALE results will inform the development of a Fatigue Assessment Procedure. 6. Fatigue Evaluation Methodology This project aims to develop an environmentally assisted fatigue life evaluation procedure (Courtin et al. (2023)). The developed procedure will include: (1) a comparative analysis of aging parameters between laboratory specimens and industrial components; (2) fatigue curves derived from experimental data and existing literature; (3) mathematical formulations incorporating relevant parameters and environmental factors; (4) a defined fatigue assessment methodology; and (5) a lesson learned report. The resulting procedure will be documented in a format intended to supplement existing international design standards. Validation will be performed by applying the procedure to an industrial component, with results compared against those obtained using current standard approaches. The open access document by Tice et al. (2018) serves as a representative example of the desired output. 7. Project status update From its inception in December 2024, numerous in-person and virtual meetings have convened various subgroups focused on mechanistic understanding, experimental design, existing data analysis, and model development. So far, the following progress has been achieved:  WP2 has completed development of a data mining software tool leveraging the MatDB database. External data sources, including EPRI, USNRC, and NRA, have been integrated for analysis (International Fatigue Database). Cross-work package collaboration has facilitated alignment of objectives and prioritization of studies among WP3, WP4, and WP5.  WP3 phase 3 has commenced, supported by the Expert Panel. Both uniaxial and features test are underway.  WP4 employs a systematic modeling and assessment approach. Empirical data derived from experimental testing are subjected to comparative analysis with codified methodologies.  WP5 characterization activities continue, including completion of a fatigue striation counting collaboration and material characterization.  Dissemination of project results is being pursued through scientific and professional forums, along with the publication of several scientific documents. Acknowledgements This project has received funding from the Euratom research and training program 2019-2020 under grant agreement No 945300. The contributions of all partners in the INCEFA-SCALE project are also acknowledged. References Asada, S., Nomura, Y., 2021. “Development of New Design Fatigue Curves in Japan - Treatment of Variable Loading Amplitude Effect-, PVP2021 60418,” in Proceedings of the ASME 2021 Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference PVP2021 , Virtual, https:// doi.org/10.1115/PVP2021-60418 ASME, 2021. “Section III Division 1, Rules for Construction of Nuclear Power Plant Components. In Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.” Ameri can Society of Mechanical Engineers Beswick, J., le- Roux, J. C., Doremus, L., Martin, O., 2023 “INCEFA -SCALE Project – Phases 1 and 2 of Testing Programme,” in ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference PVP2023 , Atlanta, USA. https://doi.org/10.1115/PVP2023-106243  Project activities are progressing across multiple work packages.  A confidential collaboration agreement with EPRI has been signed.