Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems (MiNES) 2021: Conference Banquet
Program Organizers: Todd Allen, University of Michigan; Clarissa Yablinsky, Los Alamos National Laboratory; Anne Campbell, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Thursday 6:30 PM
November 11, 2021
Room: Grand Ballroom
Location: Omni William Penn Hotel

Session Chair: Todd Allen, University of Michigan


6:30 PM  Plenary
What’s Driving the Acceleration of Nuclear Materials Technology?: Rita Baranwal1; 1Electric Power Research Institute
    Since advanced non-light water reactors (ARs) operate at much higher temperatures than traditional nuclear power plants, design practices now need to account for unique behaviors in material and component properties and in various coolants. Construction materials for ARs need to endure mechanical loads and often extreme environmental conditions for prolonged times while withstanding effects of temperature transients, effects of irradiation damage to material properties, and irradiation-induced swelling. Lessons learned from the deployment of the existing LWR fleet will need to be augmented with new tools such as AI and machine learning as well as new manufacturing methods to facilitate and accelerate the material characterization and qualification process.