ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Nuclear Installations Safety
Devoted specifically to the safety of nuclear installations and the health and safety of the public, this division seeks a better understanding of the role of safety in the design, construction and operation of nuclear installation facilities. The division also promotes engineering and scientific technology advancement associated with the safety of such facilities.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Mar 2025
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
April 2025
Latest News
Nuclear News 40 Under 40 discuss the future of nuclear
Seven members of the inaugural Nuclear News 40 Under 40 came together on March 4 to discuss the current state of nuclear energy and what the future might hold for science, industry, and the public in terms of nuclear development.
To hear more insights from this talented group of young professionals, watch the “40 Under 40 Roundtable: Perspectives from Nuclear’s Rising Stars” on the ANS website.
Kevin R. Robb, Judith M. Cuta, L. Paul Miller
Nuclear Technology | Volume 199 | Number 3 | September 2017 | Pages 289-298
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2017.1346446
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In the United States, approximately 2500 casks are loaded with commercial spent nuclear fuel (SNF) that has transitioned from wet storage (spent fuel pools) to dry storage. The number of loaded dry storage casks is increasing by approximately 200 each year. Over time, cask designs have evolved to enhance safety and to accommodate more fuel and higher heat loads. Also, higher burnup fuel is being transitioned into dry storage. The SNF is being stored in dry casks for longer times than specified in the original certification period. Several degradation mechanisms related to fuel assemblies and canisters are affected by temperature. For the cladding, temperature-dependent phenomena include creep and annealing, hydride reorientation and embrittlement, and the ductile-to-brittle transition. Temperature can also influence phenomena that affect the long-term integrity of the storage system, including deliquescence, corrosion, and stress-corrosion cracking. Therefore, accurate determination of the temperatures of various components is needed to evaluate potential safety-related issues during transportation after extended storage and to ensure SNF retrievability. The Used Nuclear Fuel-Storage, Transportation & Disposal Analysis Resource and Data System (UNF-ST&DARDS) is being developed for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy to streamline analyses for the waste management system [Nucl. Technol., Vol. 195, p. 124 (2017)]. The thermal analysis capability within UNF-ST&DARDS and example results are discussed herein.