Nuclear Technology -- ANS / Publications / Journals / Nuclear Technology

About ANS
- ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
About Nuclear
- Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Communities
- Division Spotlight
  Reactor Physics
  The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Events
- Meeting Spotlight
  ANS Student Conference 2025
  April 3–5, 2025
  Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
Standards
- 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!
Publications
- Latest Magazine Issues
  Apr 2025
  Jan 2025
  Latest Journal Issues
  Nuclear Science and Engineering
  May 2025
  Nuclear Technology
  April 2025
  Fusion Science and Technology
  April 2025
- Latest News
  Optimizing Maintenance Strategies in Power Generation: Embracing Predictive and Preventive Approaches
  In the high-stakes world of power generation, ensuring continuous operation and reducing downtime are central priorities. With the increasing complexity of power generation systems, maintenance practices are evolving to meet these demands more efficiently. Understanding the roles of Predictive Maintenance (PdM), Preventive Maintenance (PM), and Reactive Maintenance (Run-to-Failure) is crucial for maintenance professionals in the energy sector to make informed decisions about equipment management and long-term operational strategy.
Search

The mechanical properties of nuclear reactor components degrade as a result of long service exposure in high-temperature, irradiation, and corrosive environments. Fracture toughness and tensile testing are conducted on the pressure tubes of Zircaloy-2 to evaluate the effects of neutron fluence, hydrogen content, and temperature on the mechanical properties. Tensile tests are performed on the base metal, and fracture toughness tests are performed on both the base and weld metals. Neutron irradiation increases the strength, reduces ductility, and significantly degrades fracture toughness. The postirradiation fracture toughness increases substantially as the test temperature is increased from room temperature to 250°C. Hydrogen levels up to 250 ppm are found to have little or no effect on the postirradiation fracture toughness. Because of its anisotropic nature, Zircaloy-2 displays different fracture resistances, depending on crack orientation. In the base metal, the fracture toughness in the longitudinal orientation is higher than that for the circumferential orientation, and this difference is enhanced at higher temperatures. The weld exhibits lower toughness in the longitudinal direction.