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Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
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ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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General Kenneth Nichols and the Manhattan Project
Nichols
The Oak Ridger has published the latest in a series of articles about General Kenneth D. Nichols, the Manhattan Project, and the 1954 Atomic Energy Act. The series has been produced by Nichols’ grandniece Barbara Rogers Scollin and Oak Ridge (Tenn.) city historian David Ray Smith. Gen. Nichols (1907–2000) was the district engineer for the Manhattan Engineer District during the Manhattan Project.
As Smith and Scollin explain, Nichols “had supervision of the research and development connected with, and the design, construction, and operation of, all plants required to produce plutonium-239 and uranium-235, including the construction of the towns of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Richland, Washington. The responsibility of his position was massive as he oversaw a workforce of both military and civilian personnel of approximately 125,000; his Oak Ridge office became the center of the wartime atomic energy’s activities.”
Meng Yue, Lap-Yan Cheng, Robert A. Bari
Nuclear Technology | Volume 162 | Number 1 | April 2008 | Pages 26-44
Technical Paper | Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT08-A3931
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A Markov model approach is developed for the evaluation of proliferation resistance (PR) of nuclear energy systems. The focus of this study is to create a high-fidelity probabilistic assessment model that better represents nuclear energy systems. Both extrinsic and intrinsic barriers associated with the energy systems are considered. Modeling uncertainty and safeguards false alarms, composite safeguards approaches, concealment, and human performance are particularly discussed in detail and incorporated in the Markov model. These features are anticipated to have significant impacts on PR assessment. The Markov model approach is adapted to a hypothetical example sodium fast reactor (ESFR) system using physically meaningful parameters that can be obtained from physical processes. Development of metrics for six PR measures is discussed. Computation of the PR measures using the Markov model of the ESFR system is illustrated. The results obtained in this study demonstrate applicability and effectiveness of the Markov model approach in the PR assessment.
