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Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
Meeting Spotlight
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
TerraPower begins U.K. regulatory approval process
Seattle-based TerraPower signaled its interest this week in building its Natrium small modular reactor in the United Kingdom, the company announced.
TerraPower sent a letter to the U.K.’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, formally establishing its intention to enter the U.K. generic design assessment (GDA) process. This is TerraPower’s first step in deployment of its Natrium technology—a 345-MW sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage unit—on the international stage.
Plenary Session
Thursday, September 12, 2024|9:00–10:00AM EDT|Colonial Ballroom
Session Chair:
Benoit Oudot
Speaker Click on the photo to view the speaker's bio
Brian D. WirthDepartment of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Brian D. Wirth will introduce the Metallurgy and Materials Science sessions with a discussion of "Multiscale Materials Modeling of Radiation Damage and Defect/Microstructural Evolution in Materials: Impact of He/dpa Ratio" The presentation will focus on the effect of a noble gas, helium, which is produced by alpha decay of plutonium, and how that influences the long-term aging behavior of plutonium, including changes in thermal-physical properties. The expected behavior of plutonium aging due to alpha decay will be compared and contrasted from what we know about helium behavior, and in particular the production rate of helium to displacement damage, from materials used in nuclear energy.
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Multiscale Materials Modeling of Radiation Damage and Defect/Microstructural Evolution in Materials: Impact of He/dpa Ratio
Brian Wirth (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville)
Paper
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