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Division Spotlight
Mathematics & Computation
Division members promote the advancement of mathematical and computational methods for solving problems arising in all disciplines encompassed by the Society. They place particular emphasis on numerical techniques for efficient computer applications to aid in the dissemination, integration, and proper use of computer codes, including preparation of computational benchmark and development of standards for computing practices, and to encourage the development on new computer codes and broaden their use.
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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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.
Hyo-Nam Kim, Ihn Namgung
Nuclear Technology | Volume 195 | Number 1 | July 2016 | Pages 15-28
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NT15-17
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In severe accident conditions, the molten core material forms an internally heated debris bed and eventually becomes a molten pool of corium, which will cause or induce thermal and mechanical loads to the reactor vessel lower head (RVLH) resulting in penetrations leading to failure. A good understanding of the mechanical behavior of the RVLH is essential for estimating structural integrity and improving accident mitigation strategies.
Coupled thermomechanical analysis using ANSYS, a general-purpose finite element method analysis code, was used to evaluate the possibility and timescale of failure. A two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element model was adopted based on APR1400 design data with relevant material properties including creep data.
From the study, it was found that the possibility of plastic and creep failure of the RVLH for the APR1400 was considerably low for a full-core meltdown of the reactor core under ex-vessel cooling conditions with an ambient temperature of 130°C and constant decay heat from the corium, but the lower head may fail unless the increased internal pressure can be reduced on time. Plastic failure can be a major cause of lower head failure of a reactor vessel in high internal pressure conditions and creep failure is not negligible, since failure mechanisms under long-lasting periods are considered. This study found that the APR1400 RVLH failure time is around 220 h using 15% creep strain failure criteria from the postulated accident condition.