Nuclear materials
Prof. Marc Scibetta – Université de Liège
Prof. Eric van Walle – Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Prof. Rik-Wouter Bosch – Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
3 ECTS
90 hours study time
- 24 contact hours theory
- 10 contact hours exercises/laboratory sessions/visits
- 3 hours additional personal (readings etc.)
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- To assess the basic aspects of material science as they apply to nuclear systems.
- To review the basic processes of material degradation and ageing due to the nuclear environment (radiation effects, corrosion and fatigue).
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Part 1: Material sciences: Properties of materials in relation with their processing, micro-structure and intended performance (M. Scibetta – 1 ECTS)
- Atoms and their interactions
- Crystal structure and imperfections
- Phase diagram and kinetics effects
- Material properties (excluding radiation effect and corrosion)
Part 2: Corrosion phenomena: (RW. Bosch – 1 ECTS)
- Basics of electrochemistry of aqueous corrosion
- Overview of common forms of corrosion (uniform corrosion, galvanic corrosion, pitting, stress corrosion cracking, …)
- Methods of corrosion prevention and protection (coatings, inhibitors, cathodic protection, design against corrosion, …
- Corrosion monitoring (electrochemical methods, electrical resistance, ..)
- Concise overview of main corrosion problems in LWRs
Part 3: Reactor pressure vessel life management (E. van Walle – 1 ECTS)
- Radiation effects: introduction and general principles
- Reactor Pressure Vessel Degradation Mechanisms: part 1
Visit and laboratory session to the SCK•CEN research infrastructure
- Laboratory session on mechanical testing: cold lab and hot-cells (M. Scibetta)
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The PowerPoint presentations of the lectures are available on the BNEN website.
Other useful references:
- Murty, K L., and Indrajit Charit. An introduction to nuclear materials : fundamentals and applications. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH, 2013
- Konings, Rudy J., et al. Comprehensive nuclear materials. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2012.
- Glasstone, S. & A. Sesonske, Nuclear Reactor Engineering, 4-th Ed, Vol 1, Chapman & Hall, New York, 1994 (Chapter 7: Reactor Materials, pp 406-462)
- William D. Callister, Jr., David G. Rethwisch Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction, 9th Edition, Wiley, 2014
- Furio Ercolessi. A Molecular Dynamics Primer 1997
- T. L. Anderson Fracture Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications, Fourth Edition, CRC, 2017
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Courses in the following field
- Nuclear energy: introduction
- Introduction to nuclear physics and measurements
Basic chemistry, material behaviour.
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- Part 1, 2 & 3: Oral examination with written preparation, open book
- The laboratory session on mechanical testing are compulsory and cannot be repeated in second session.
- Report on the laboratory session on mechanical testing (10%).
- The grade will be determined by weighing the grades on the separate parts, in proportion to the number of ECTS per part. In case of a failure for one of the parts, the examination committee can decide to penalize by lowering the final grade.
- The separate parts of the examination can be scheduled on multiple days.