Current topics of the structural design for LWR plants in Japan

The major movements related to the structural design of light water reactors in Japan are the system change of the structural standards along with the deregulation of the electric utility industry and the evaluation of plant life management. This paper summarizes these situations, followed by a detailed description of the research and development of technologies and the development of voluntary standards for each. It is considered that the results of the research should be incorporated in the voluntary consensus standards.