Evaluation of industrial aging, elements of methodology

The aim of this dossier is to provide a general methodology for studying the industrial ageing of a component or installation. The reader will find the main elements of the methodology to be deployed. The methods are not detailed, but the reader will find sufficient elements to start an ageing study, and will also be able to find the appropriate references to go further.

The ageing of industrial installations is reflected in a continuous, more or less rapid degradation in the performance of components, systems and structures, or in their loss of function. A certain number of countermeasures (maintenance, renovation, replacement programs, etc.) can slow down or limit ageing, thereby optimizing their performance, in particular their operating life, while controlling risks. However, it is essential to anticipate potential failures before they occur, and to foresee the long-term consequences of the remedies and options that are to be implemented preventively. To this end, feedback and analysis of operating experience, as well as the use of industrial expertise, are strategic elements.

Having defined ageing and shown that there are two visions of ageing, one physical, the other reliability-oriented, we now turn to the industrial problem and the choice of a methodology. The latter takes the usual form of a risk analysis. The emphasis is then placed on anticipation, followed by assessment of predictive reliability, the latter being one of the most influential parameters for optimizing the choice of preventive option designed to counteract aging and control industrial risks while improving performance. The essential features of an ageing study and a few avenues for research and development in the years to come bring us to a conclusion.