Preventive maintenance method and apparatus for a structural components in a reactor pressure vessel

Disclosed is a water jet peening method that includes the steps of: preparing a water jet peening apparatus having a supporting member, a first divider plate, a nozzle support body, and a second divider plate; inserting the water jet peening apparatus into a piping in which a structure or electronic device is mounted that is susceptible to damage by a jet of water discharged from a jet nozzle or by shock waves; disposing either the first divider plate or the second divider plate between the jet nozzle and the structure or electronic device; filling water into an internal area formed in the piping between the first divider plate and the second divider plate; and subjecting the inner surface of the piping to water jet peening by allowing the jet nozzle to discharge a jet of water into the water in the internal area.