R5 Procedures for Assessing the High Temperature Response of Structures: Current Status and Future Developments

The R5 procedures have been developed within the UK power generation industry to assess the integrity of nuclear and conventional plant operating at high temperatures. Within R5, there are specific procedures for assessing creep-fatigue crack initiation in initially defect-free components (Volume 2/3) and for assessing components containing defects (Volume 4/5). This paper first describes in outline the current R5 Volume 2/3 and Volume 4/5 procedures. Attention is then focused on recent and proposed future developments in these procedures.