2. Key areas of safety research

2.1 Natural aggression

Taking into account the risks associated with natural hazards right from the design stage and during operation is essential for the safety of nuclear facilities, the overall aim being to ensure that the safety functions performed by structures and equipment are not affected in the event of earthquakes, floods or climatic hazards. Research work in this field is aimed at developing and validating tools and methods to better determine hazards and their consequences.

Hazard characterization is not a problem specific to the nuclear industry; it is of interest to several sectors, including civil protection. The associated research work is therefore widely shared. Given the diversity of natural hazards, it is impossible to provide a complete...