Limitations of individual analysis and assessment methods

The techniques outlined here are often applied individually to assess cable problems. However, none of these techniques can characterize the ageing condition of a cable with confidence, and most have never been evaluated comprehensively to determine if the changes they identify in a cable are correlated to cable age. Moreover, performing all these destructive/non — destructive mechanical, electrical, and chemical tests on the 9.1 million feet of cable and wiring in an LWR would be daunting and time consuming (AMS Corp., 2010). To more accurately determine or model the residual life in the cable network of a plant, a system and program is needed that combines and integrates these methods in such a way as to provide a more objective assessment of the health and ageing condition of low — and medium-voltage cables (AMS Corp., 2010 ).