A pioneering approach to rebar detailing has been developed for use in the construction of nuclear power plants. By employing the method of "detailing by exception," large portions of the detailing process can be automated, and by creating a three-dimensional perspective, constructability and congestion issues can be resolved with much greater accuracy and efficiency. The automated, 3-D solution also handles on-site changes with ease and enables verification to support regulatory compliance. The result is huge cost savings, less material waste, fewer construction delays, and improved compliance.

The construction of a nuclear power plant is a massive undertaking. These projects take years to complete and cost billions of dollars. So it comes as no surprise that managing construction materials is an extremely complicated chore. This whitepaper explores how RFID technology can be used to reduce costs, avoid delays, and improve compliance in the nuclear construction industry.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an emerging technology that is beginning to receive attention in the construction industry. From asset and progress management, to the locating of underground and in-wall utilities/objects, to the integration of RFID with building information modeling (BIM), the potential benefits of RFID to the construction industry will be a topic that receives more and more attention in the future.

The PMCap encapsulation repair method provides a low-cost, non-intrusive, ASME Section VIII Code compliant, simplified approach to address feedwater heater shell-wall thinning at Wolf Creek. The result was reduced modification costs, as well as increased heater service life. This method results in a successful low cost alternative to the traditional weld overlay or flush patch repair methods and should be considered for any ASME pressure vessel or piping systems, not only in nuclear and fossil power generating facilities, but also any industry that has similar component wall thinning problems.

Several methods of pressure boundary repair are in use today, including "flush patch repair", "weld build-up repair", "patch plate repair", and other variations. Each of these techniques either requires cutting out and replacing the affected section, or building up of material on the affected area to restore the pressure vessel to meet code. Each of these techniques has disadvantages. An alternative repair method "Local Thin Area Repair and Restoration Component" is described in this paper as a cost effective alternative to these solution, which overcomes many of their disadvantages.

When reinforcing bars are fabricated with bends, the straight bar is initially cut to a length that is less than the sum of the specified dimensions of the bent bar. The difference between the detailed length and the cut length is the "bend curvature deduction" and may be known in the trade by other names such as gain, creep, and gyp. This white paper looks at some of the challenges around calculating the length of bent reinforcing bar and has comes to some interesting conclusions.

Design engineers often lack the practical field experience necessary to provide construction documents that reflect job-site requirements. Detailing and installation conflicts can therefore occur, leading to requests for information, delays, and additional costs. As a result, a variety of ad hoc, job-site solutions ("cowboy tricks") have evolved. While many of these job-site remedies provide good, workable solutions, others could be improved through practical design review. This white paper explores the practical aspects of tolerances and their impact on field constructability.