Properties of metallic and non-metallic materials (such as concrete, graphite, high-density polyethylene, rubber, plastics), and their constitutive laws for behavior under monotonic, cyclic and dynamic loadings.
Experimental and analytical methods to characterize nonlinear behavior of isotropic and anisotropic materials.
Degradation mechanisms including effects of thermal cycling, aging, embrittlement, welding, stress corrosion, fatigue, creep, cavitation, and interactions.
Fuel and clad materials.
Nano materials for next generation reactors and associated facilities.
Division II - Fracture Mechanics and Structural Integrity
Experimental and theoretical results on brittle and ductile fracture of metallic, non-metallic and concrete materials.
Cracks in welds and crack propagation by creep or fatigue.
Local approach of fracture mechanics and dynamic fracture.
Fatigue and creep issues including thermal and environmental effects.
Simplified methods.
Assessment of steel components (reactor vessels, piping systems, etc.).
Leak-before-break assessment/break exclusion.
Crack arrest, residual stress, probabilistic damage evaluation and fuel integrity.
Division III - Computation, Simulation and Visualization
Computational methods for linear and nonlinear analysis including:
Simulation of inelasticity, material damage, large deformations, and large displacement,
Simulation of impact, seismic soil-structure interaction, creep damage, vibrations, and blast.
Simulation of turbulence, fluid dynamics, flow-induced vibrations, thermal hydromechanics, and fluid-structure interaction.
Computer-aided engineering and information technology.
Computer software and control of errors.
Verification and validation.
Application of multi-scale material modelling.
Division IV - External, Internal Hazards, and Loads Characterization
Probabilistic and deterministic definition and consideration of uncertainties of design and beyond-design loads for critical facilities caused by:
normal operations, operational occurrences, accidental events and severe accidents
earthquakes, tornadoes, high winds, floods, fire, hydrodynamic loads, blast, temperature and environmental effects, (hydrogen/vapor deflagration/detonation, steam generator tube rupture, reactor activity flooding, etc.)
Division V - Modelling, Testing and Response Analysis of Structures, Systems and Components
Modelling and response analysis of structures (including foundations), systems, lifelines and components subjected to extreme loads.
The use of implicit and explicit approaches for solution of numerical simulations – needs and limitations.
Reduced scale and large scale structural testing.
Division VI - Design Issues, Codes & Standards
Addressing Design Margins in current codes & standards.
Acceptance criteria for Operational States (Normal Operation and Anticipated Operational Occurrences) and Accident Conditions (Design Basis Accidents and Design Extension Conditions).
Design Codes & Standards and Regulatory documents.
Design code harmonization.
The use of code design criteria in the FE analysis and design software chain.
Division VII - Safety, Reliability, Risk and Safety Margins
Reliability of structures, systems and components.
Application of probabilistic methods to improve design, operation and safety of complex systems.
Probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) for Internal and external events.
PSA and margin studies.
Development of risk-informed approaches and risk-based regulations, codes and standards.
Human factors engineering.
Failure mode analysis.
Division VIII - Issues Related to Operations, Inspection and Maintenance
Life cycle management including inspection, instrumentation, online monitoring and diagnostic, maintenance, repair and replacement.
Life and service prediction, reliability, availability, deterministic and probabilistic integrity risk assessment.
Utility and regulatory perspectives on periodic safety reviews, license renewal, safety and economic issues.
Non-destructive examination (NDE) methods and techniques for structural integrity assessments, reliability and validation of NDE methodologies, and NDE training.
Operational feedback and lessons learned and Operation, codes and standard.
Division IX - Fuel Cycle Facilities, Waste Management and Decommissioning
Siting, design and construction of fuel cycle facilities including fuel storage, fuel racks and dry storage.
Evaluation of existing facilities by Risk-informed and performance-based considerations and Probabilistic safety assessment.
Issues related to long-term and short-term waste storage and transportation.
Deep Geological Repositories (DGRs).
Division X - Advanced and Small Modular Reactors
Siting, design and construction programs for small modular reactors including research reactors, advanced, generation IV and fusion reactors.
Performance and behavior of components in high-temperature environment and Thermal hydromechanics.
Design governing accidents and design criteria for small modular reactors including research reactors, advanced, generation IV and fusion reactors.
Regulatory framework, safety research and development and adequacy of codes and standards.
Division XI - Severe Accident Management and Structural Evaluation
Management of severe accidents.
Response of nuclear power plant components under severe accident conditions.
Phenomenology of core degradation and progression of core damage from initial fuel degradation to core-concrete interaction.
Evaluate of the integrity and ultimate failure of fission product boundaries.
Thermal hydraulic response of the reactor, containment and auxiliary buildings under severe accident conditions.
Means to address epistemic uncertainties in developing robust severe accident management guidance.
Division XII - Construction Management, Cost, and Scheduling
Manufacturing and construction of fuel and core structure, pressure vessel; steel and concrete containment structures; other concrete structures (storage, processing, etc.); piping and major components, fuel cask design.
Capacity, ductility, redundancy and quality considerations.