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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
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
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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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
ARPA-E announces $40 million to develop transmutation technologies for UNF
The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) announced $40 million in funding to develop cutting-edge technologies to enable the transmutation of used nuclear fuel into less-radioactive substances. According to ARPA-E, the new initiative addresses one of the agency’s core goals as outlined by Congress: to provide transformative solutions to improve the management, cleanup, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
J. Andre, R. Botrel, J. Schunck, A. Pinay, C. Chicanne, M. Theobald
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 70 | Number 2 | August-September 2016 | Pages 237-243
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST15-241
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
To produce the laser targets needed for laser plasma experiments, the CEA target department uses different mechanical machining techniques and develops methods that are consistent with the target requirements in terms of quality, timing, and cost.
Combining these aims involves several challenges. First, laser experiments need a wide range of target geometries with common points: reduced dimensions (millimetric range) and thin walls (micrometric range), as well as very strict dimensional and geometric specifications. According to these requirements, the target specifications demand the machining of different kinds of materials from metals (aluminum, copper, and gold) to polymers and low-density foams.
In this context, the versatility of the machining processes is the key issue. These challenges necessitate the development and upgrading of machining techniques and methods as well as optimizing the engineering design to use the full potential of these techniques. In this presentation, three main machining processes are developed and illustrated: adaptations of machine tools for planar targets (by the flycutting method) and for machining complex shapes (combined milling and turning), the development of the original process to produce a baffle hohlraum, and the parametric optimizations of machining tantalum aerogel.