Utilizing Neutrons and Synchrotron X-rays to Understand Microstructural and Mechanical Properties in Nuclear Fuels and Materials

Synchrotron x-rays and neutrons can be used as effective probes in nuclear fuels and materials due to their ability to penetrate and interact with these materials. A number of microstructural features can be studied using these particles, including lattice parameters, phase identification, phase fractions, texture, crystallite sizes, and dislocation density. Mechanical properties including spatially resolved stresses/strains and the elastic modulus can also be determined. These material attributes are of interest since they can provide potential insight regarding fabrication techniques and ultimately fuel performance. Examples of applications of high energy x-rays and neutrons to assess microstructural features and mechanical properties in nuclear fuels and materials will be discussed. A selection of U.S. synchrotron and neutron user-based facilities will also be briefly discussed.

Dr. Maria Okuniewski is a research and development staff scientist and engineer in the Fuel Performance and Design group within the Nuclear Fuels and Materials Division at Idaho National Laboratory, where she has worked since 2008. She obtained her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Okuniewski received her Ph.D. in 2008. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Idaho State University. Dr. Okuniewski's interests include: (1) radiation damage in nuclear materials and fuels, (2) developing and utilizing non-destructive techniques for analyzing material properties, (3) microstructure and property relationships in materials, (4) in-situ and ex-situ transmission electron microscopy, and (5) multi-scale modeling of metallic nuclear fuels and cladding.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

ARMS 2326

9:00 am