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Division Spotlight
Young Members Group
The Young Members Group works to encourage and enable all young professional members to be actively involved in the efforts and endeavors of the Society at all levels (Professional Divisions, ANS Governance, Local Sections, etc.) as they transition from the role of a student to the role of a professional. It sponsors non-technical workshops and meetings that provide professional development and networking opportunities for young professionals, collaborates with other Divisions and Groups in developing technical and non-technical content for topical and national meetings, encourages its members to participate in the activities of the Groups and Divisions that are closely related to their professional interests as well as in their local sections, introduces young members to the rules and governance structure of the Society, and nominates young professionals for awards and leadership opportunities available to members.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
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Christmas Night
Twas the night before Christmas when all through the houseNo electrons were flowing through even my mouse.
All devices were plugged in by the chimney with careWith the hope that St. Nikola Tesla would share.
L. Soldi, D. Manara, D. Bottomley, D. Robba, L. Luzzi, R. J. M. Konings
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 197 | Number 3 | March 2023 | Pages 351-363
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2022.2106731
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The current research focuses on laser melting and successive analysis of laboratory-scale uranium dioxide nuclear fuel samples in direct contact with Zircaloy-4 cladding. The goal was to characterize the melted and refrozen interfaces, in particular, observing local changes of the melting point and interdiffusion of fuel and cladding materials under inert gas (Ar), in the presence of hydrogen (Ar + 6% H2) or in air. Results obtained by laser heating UO2 pellets clad in a Zircaloy ring were interpreted in light of reference tests performed on pellets in which UO2 and zirconium were blended in a series of given compositions. The sample composition was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy to verify the occurrence of diffusion and segregation phenomena during the laser-heating cycles. Laser-melting experiments were performed on pellets of uranium dioxide clad in Zircaloy-4 rings to simulate the configuration of a light water reactor fuel rod. Under inert gas, the material interdiffusion resulted in consistent melting point depression (of up to 200 K below the melting point of pure UO2) at the interface between the fuel and the cladding. Experiments carried out in the presence of H2 displayed a more limited effect on the melting temperature, but they resulted in a remarkable embrittlement of the whole structure, with large fragmentation of the Zircaloy cladding. This was probably due to the formation of brittle and highly volatile Zr hydrides. The observed melting point decrease was even more pronounced (up to over 400 K) under air in uranium-rich samples, due to the change in the stoichiometry of UO2 in UO2+x.
