Please note: Due to alternative arrangements for teaching and
assessment in place from 18 March 2020 to mitigate against the restrictions in
place due to COVID-19, information shown for 2019/20 may not always be accurate.
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
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:
- List the material requirements for different components of a nuclear power plant.
- Contrast the metallurgy of different nuclear reactor materials.
- Explain the structure-property relationships of nuclear reactor materials.
- Identify material degradation mechanisms within reactor environments.
- Appraise the behaviour of new reactor materials.
- 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
2-hour written exam (100%)
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).