The effect of fuel burnup on the embrittlement of various cladding alloys was examined with laboratory tests conducted under conditions relevant to loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs). The cladding materials tested were Zircaloy-4, Zircaloy-2, ZIRLO, M5, and E110. Tests were performed with specimens sectioned from as-fabricated cladding, from prehydrided (surrogate for high-burnup) cladding, and from high-burnup fuel rods which had been irradiated in commercial reactors. The tests were designed to determine for each cladding material the ductile-to-brittle transition as a function of steam oxidation temperature, weight gain due to oxidation, hydrogen content, pre-transient cladding thickness, and pre-transient corrosion-layer thickness. For short, defueled cladding specimens oxidized at 1000-1200 C, ring compression tests were performed to determine post-quench ductility at (less-than or equal to) 135 C. The effect of breakaway oxidation on embrittlement was also examined for short specimens oxidized at 800-1000 C. Among other findings, embrittlement was found to be sensitive to fabrication processes--especially surface finish--but insensitive to alloy constituents for these dilute zirconium alloys used as cladding materials. It was also demonstrated that burnup effects on embrittlement are largely due to hydrogen that is absorbed in the cladding during normal operation. Some tests were also performed with longer, fueled-and-pressurized cladding segments subjected to LOCA-relevant heating and cooling rates. Recommendations are given for types of tests that would identify LOCA conditions under which embrittlement would occur.

High-performance alloys that can withstand operation in hazardous nuclear environments are critical to presentday in-service reactor support and maintenance and are foundational for reactor concepts of the future. With commercial nuclear energy vendors and operators facing the retirement of staff during the coming decades, much of the scholarly knowledge of nuclear materials pursuant to appropriate, impactful, and safe usage is at risk. Led by the multi-award winning editorial team of G. Robert Odette (UCSB) and Steven J. Zinkle (UTK/ORNL) and with contributions from leaders of each alloy discipline, Structural Alloys for Nuclear Energy Applications aids the next generation of researchers and industry staff developing and maintaining steels, nickel-base alloys, zirconium alloys, and other structural alloys in nuclear energy applications. This authoritative reference is a critical acquisition for institutions and individuals seeking state-of-the-art knowledge aided by the editors' unique personal insight from decades of frontline research, engineering and management. - Focuses on in-service irradiation, thermal, mechanical, and chemical performance capabilities. - Covers the use of steels and other structural alloys in current fission technology, leading edge Generation-IV fission reactors, and future fusion power reactors. - Provides a critical and comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art experimental knowledge base of reactor materials, for applications ranging from engineering safety and lifetime assessments to supporting the development of advanced computational models.

The Water Reactor Fuel Performance Meeting (WRFPM) held in Asia has merged with TopFuel in Europe and LWR Fuel Performance in the United States to form the globally most influential conference in the field of nuclear fuel research. WRFPM2023 is organized by Chinese Nuclear Society (CNS) in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ), Korean Nuclear Society (KNS), European Nuclear Society (ENS), American Nuclear Society (ANS), the Interna-tional Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the support from China Nuclear Energy In¬dustry Corporation (CNEIC) and TVEL. Conference Topics: 1. Advances in water reactor fuel technology and testing 2. Operation and experience 3. Transient and off-normal fuel behaviour and safety related issues 4. Fuel cycle, used fuel storage and transportation 5. Innovative fuel and related issues 6. Fuel modelling, analysis and methodology

Handbook on Thermal Hydraulics of Water-Cooled Nuclear Reactors, Volume 1, Foundations and Principles includes all new chapters which delve deeper into the topic, adding context and practical examples to help readers apply learnings to their own setting. Topics covered include experimental thermal-hydraulics and instrumentation, numerics, scaling and containment in thermal-hydraulics, as well as a title dedicated to good practices in verification and validation. This book will be a valuable reference for graduate and undergraduate students of nuclear or thermal engineering, as well as researchers in nuclear thermal-hydraulics and reactor technology, engineers working in simulation and modeling of nuclear reactors, and more. In addition, nuclear operators, code developers and safety engineers will also benefit from the practical guidance provided. - Presents a comprehensive analysis on the connection between nuclear power and thermal hydraulics - Includes end-of-chapter questions, quizzes and exercises to confirm understanding and provides solutions in an appendix - Covers applicable nuclear reactor safety considerations and design technology throughout