In the beginning of the project, ageing experiments will be carried out by WP2 on model cable material and cables provided by NEXANS. Material for normal conditions will first be prepared, followed by material for accidental conditions. The reason for this is that the focus of models to be developed in the framework of this project are on lifetime estimations of cable aged in normal service conditions.

This material will then be transferred to WP3 partners for characterisation, using the different techniques for micro- and macroscale level analysis as described in section 1.3. The results will be the basis for the multiscale models to be developed in WP4. The results from experiments will be integrated into a database for statistical analysis in order to help in the identification of ageing markers, but also in order to define the uncertainties of the different measurements techniques. A round Robin test will be done on unaged materials at the beginning of the project. This will also lead to guidelines to refine the standard protocols.

Based on strong interactions between the partners, the objectives of WP4 are to use results from analysis of aged material in WP3 in order to establish kinetic modelling of chemical ageing mechanisms, develop mechanical, physical and electrical modelling related to the polymer structure and outputs of the kinetic modelling. This will naturally be close to WP2 and WP3 as modellers need to define test conditions and sample types required for the development of models. This will be specifically the case for accelerated ageing as the objective of the models in this project is first of all to estimate lifetimes in normal service conditions. They will also define ideal specific characterisations for validation of the models. Some sensitivity studies will be carried out on the different models in order to identify the main influence factors, the need concerning experimental characterisation uncertainties, and to provide lifetime prevision accompanied with uncertainty level.

WP5 will define and develop criteria and deployment protocols for non-destructive and micro-sampling tests. This work will start at the beginning of the project and will be done in parallel with WPs 2, 3 and 4. As TeaM Cables is looking for criteria justified by multiscale relations, this WP will closely collaborate with WP4.

Work on numerical tools development will also be done in WP6. The specifications for the tool will start in the beginning of the project and the structure will be set up to accommodate data. Multiscale models developed in WP4 will be integrated into the “Virtual Polymer” tool provided by EDF. This tool will then be interfaced with some functionalities of the COMSY Cable tool provided by Framatome. The resulting TeaM Cables tool will be refined in order to suit end-user needs (expressed by the end-user group). This will be achieved by end-user testing and using the feedback for the improvement of the tool in the last phases of the project. The end-user group will also check the transposability of the models developed on data coming from in-service cables or from databases of previous projects. It will also help to provide new standards.

The aim of WP7 is to implement measures to maximise impact through dissemination, communication, preparation of the exploitation of the results, coordination of the end-user group and the contribution to standards.