A TEST METHOD FOR RELIAVLY AND EASILY EVALUATING THE CONDITION OF A REACTOR COOLANT PUMP (RCP) SHAFT WHEN THER E IS ONLY LIMITED ACCESS TO THE SHAFT AT THE COUPLING WOULD ENABLE THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY TO EVALUATE THESE SHAFT SYSTEMS ON SITE.

A TEST METHOD FOR RELIAVLY AND EASILY EVALUATING THE CONDITION OF A REACTOR COOLANT PUMP (RCP) SHAFT WHEN THER E IS ONLY LIMITED ACCESS TO THE SHAFT AT THE COUPLING WOULD ENABLE THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY TO EVALUATE THESE SHAFT SYSTEMS ON SITE. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES A TESTING METHOD WHICH CAN BEAPPLIED TO IDENTIFY THE PRESENCE, SIZE, AND LOCATION OF SHAFT CRACKS IN A VERTICAL RCP SHAFT SYSTEM. CONFIRMATION OF A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NECESSARY "TOOLS" WILL PERMIT THE DEFINITION OF A TEST METHOD WHICH MEETS THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES WHILE ACCOUNTING FOR THE BOUND ARY CONDITIONS PARTICULAR TO AN RCP SHAFT SYSTEM. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT A PROCEDURE WILL RESULT THAT MAY BE USED INANY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TO ASSESS THE RCP SHAFT SYSTEM.