Unit information: Nuclear Materials Behaviour in 2016/17

Unit name	Nuclear Materials Behaviour
Unit code	MENGM0015
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Mostafavi
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

This unit covers the metallurgy and engineering structure-property relationships of reactor materials, focussing on structural and mechanical properties, and key life-limiting degradation mechanisms, such as creep-fatigue, corrosion, and radiation damage within reactor environments (e.g. PWR, AGR). Consequences on nuclear decommissioning will also be discussed.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. List the material requirements for different components of a nuclear power plant.
2. Contrast the metallurgy of different nuclear reactor materials.
3. Explain the structure-property relationships of nuclear reactor materials.
4. Identify material degradation mechanisms within reactor environments.
5. Appraise the behaviour of new reactor materials.
6. Propose appropriate nuclear decommissioning strategies for different components.

Teaching Information

Lectures including seminar talks by external nuclear experts in their specialist areas relevant to the unit topic. E-learning via industry partner training schemes.

Assessment Information

Formative feedback will come from the results of the computer based test

The final mark is split as follows

Computer-based test (20%)

2-hour written exam (80%)

Reading and References

• An Introduction to Nuclear Materials: Fundamentals and Applications, K. Linga Murty and Indrajit Charit, Wiley VCH (2012).
• Materials for Nuclear Plants: From Safe Design to Residual Life Assessments, Wolfgang Hoffelner, Springer (2012).
• Understanding and Mitigating Ageing in Nuclear Power Plants: Materials and Operational Aspects of Plant Life Management, Philip G. Tipping, Woodhead Publishing, Ltd. (2010).