AbstractOxide growing on mild and low alloy steel components in the high pressure CO2based coolant of UK gas cooled nuclear power stations can become porous and continue to grow at the interfaces of structural components even when any interfacial gap has filled with oxide. Because such growth gives rise to a net volume expansion, the adjacent components can be forced apart. Any fastening, such as a weld or bolt, holding them together can then become stressed as a result of growth of oxide alone, and may sustain mechanical damage. The phenomenon is now well understood and methods of predicting behaviour have been developed and refined over the years to ensure safe and continued plant operation. The basis of such methods is presented for bolted joints, and the way in which joint geometry, environment, and mechanical properties of component material can affect bolt strain is outlined with examples.MST/1125