3 Credit Hours

This course discusses materials evolution and performance in advanced reactor systems, addressing the current state of knowledge for advanced fuels, cladding, and coolants. Students will gain relevant knowledge to address advanced materials questions in the next generation of nuclear reactors. Systems of interest include high-temperature gas reactors, sodium-cooled fast reactors, molten salt reactors, small modular reactors, research reactors, and more.

Prerequisites

NE509 Nuclear Materials.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Identify key phenomena affecting the performance of advanced reactor materials
2. Summarize the different stages of microstructural evolution in advanced reactor materials
3. Define the role of reactor environment on material selection
4. Summarize key areas delineating light water reactor and advanced reactor material evolution

Course Outline

Section	Weeks	Topic	Activities
Intro	1	Course Introduction	Introduce yourself in Moodle
Module 1	3	HTGRs	Exam 1
Module 2	3	SFRs	Exam 2
Module 3	3	Molten Salts and Ceramics	Exam 3
Module 4	3	Cladding and Research Reactors	Exam 4
Presentation	1	Various	Project Presentation

Course Requirements

Four exams, each worth 20% of your total grade.
One project worth 20% of your grade.

Textbook

None.

Created: 03/31/2025