Guideline for the Assessment of Fatigue Loaded Components in Hydropower Plants

Hydropower plants are designed for a very long operating time. Many plants are in operation for several decades and the general plant status can expect a safe operation for several decades more. The majority of the plant components are in original condition, individual components were replaced state-related. The new guideline of VGB provides information of the fundamental basics of lifetime calculations as well as the corresponding evaluation rules and codes. For the examination of calculations the guideline also provides supporting component and load case lists as well as a proposal to evaluate the need for the fatigue assessment of specied components in an individual hydropower plant. Special topics are handling with the evaluation for new power plants as well as for existing power plants.