NSUF 20-3088: In-situ microstructural evolution and phase transition of irradiated and transient metallic fuel for M&S validation
This proposal supports understanding the microstructural evolution of metallic fuels for advanced reactor concepts under transient conditions via in-situ heating studies of TREAT-irradiated material. The experiments are proposed to be conducted at the Irradiated Material Characterization Laboratory (IMCL) in the Material and Fuel Complex (MFC) of Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in September-October 2020. They will consist of 4 days of sample preparation by Focus Ion Beam (FIB) lift-out technique and 6 days of instrument time on TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) for characterization and in-situ heating studies. The tests will provide direct observation of the physics of grain growth, re-crystallization, phase transformations, and the effect of stress and irradiation thereupon, all of which is crucial for the validation and parameterization of microstructure evolution models within MARMOT. This type of separate-effects data is needed at low irradiation levels to determine physical mechanisms at play for microstructure evolution, relevant to the further irradiation stage. These data will be used to validate and parameterize microstructure-based models (MARMOT) and to improve M&S tools for physics-based microstructure evolution and fuel performance models for the deployment of advanced fuel (U-Pu-Zr metallic fuels).
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | This proposal supports understanding the microstructural evolution of metallic fuels for advanced reactor concepts under transient conditions via in-situ heating studies of TREAT-irradiated material. The experiments are proposed to be conducted at the Irradiated Material Characterization Laboratory (IMCL) in the Material and Fuel Complex (MFC) of Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in September-October 2020. They will consist of 4 days of sample preparation by Focus Ion Beam (FIB) lift-out technique and 6 days of instrument time on TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) for characterization and in-situ heating studies. The tests will provide direct observation of the physics of grain growth, re-crystallization, phase transformations, and the effect of stress and irradiation thereupon, all of which is crucial for the validation and parameterization of microstructure evolution models within MARMOT. This type of separate-effects data is needed at low irradiation levels to determine physical mechanisms at play for microstructure evolution, relevant to the further irradiation stage. These data will be used to validate and parameterize microstructure-based models (MARMOT) and to improve M&S tools for physics-based microstructure evolution and fuel performance models for the deployment of advanced fuel (U-Pu-Zr metallic fuels). |
| Award Announced Date | 2020-07-14T14:01:20.34 |
| Awarded Institution | Idaho National Laboratory |
| Facility | Advanced Test Reactor |
| Facility Tech Lead | Alina Zackrone |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Andrea Jokisaari |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | RTE |
| RTE Number | 3088 |