2010 ANNUAL REPORT a tradition of
discovery
Department of Nuclear Engineering
Howdy!
Annual Report 2009-2010
Howdy, Aggie Nukes! It has been quite a while since the Department of Nuclear Engineering has published an Annual Report. I am extremely pleased to be able to “resurrect” this important communication vehicle with you after a long hiatus - to remind you of the educational mission that continues to evolve and advance in our Department as we proceed toward our 50th anniversary in 2012. The Department has grown to over 400 students (combined undergraduate and graduate), from just over 50 in 1998. In the last five years, we have grown by 70%. Moreover, the Department’s faculty has grown and diversified, now addressing five major sectors of the nuclear enterprise with world-class research and expertise: Computational Methods and Reactor Physics, Nuclear Power Engineering, Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation, Nuclear Materials and Fuel Cycles, and Health Physics & Radiation Biology. As we head toward our 50th Anniversary, we commit to maintaining and enhancing our excellence in research and teaching, so that we can be judged not just the largest, but the best Nuclear Engineering Department in the United States. Whoop! Raymond J. Juzaitis, Ph.D. Department Head Sallie and Don Davis ’61 Professor in Engineering
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Texas A&M University
News & Events Department Sees Increase In Research Expenditures/Awards
The 2009-2010 academic year saw notable increases in both research expenditures and awards. Expenditures increased by 33% to $10 million (FY2010) from $7.5 million (FY2009) and awards increased 74% to $15 million (FY2010) from $8.6 million (FY2009).
Dercher Wins NEUP Fellowship
Andrew Dercher, graduate student, was awarded the Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP) fellowship from the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. The award provides Dercher $150,000 over three years. He is currently working with Dr. Karen Vierow on improvements to the decay heat removal system for gascooled fast reactors. In 2009, the NEUP program awarded 76 scholarships and 18 fellowships, approximately $2.9 million, to U.S. nuclear science and engineering students.
Invited Speaker’s Series: Nuclear Technology and Society The Department celebrates the challenge of exploring the rich interface between nuclear technology and society by sponsoring an invited lecture series by experts representing the broad spectrum of nuclear technology in today’s world, and the special policy and sociological issues that are endangered by its application. Series speakers and topics included: Dr. Warren F. “Pete” Miller, Jr., “DOE Nuclear Energy Programs: The Long and the Short/The Far and the Near” Dr. Milton Levenson, “Validity of Risk Assessments in Societal Decision-Making” Dr. Jay Davis, “Next Steps in Nuclear Weapons Control”
Students Earn Awards from NRC
The Department received more than $375,000 from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that was awarded via two fellowships and nine scholarships. Graduate students Peter Maginot and Christopher Ryan received NRC Fellowship awards with Bradley Beeny, Ross Darville, Kevin Dugan, Michael Hackemack, Daniel Holladay, William McNeely, William Sames, Alex Smith and Jared Tooley receiving undergraduate scholarships.
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Advisory Council/Department Tailgate
The fall advisory council meeting wrapped up with a tailgate at the November 21, 2009 football game against Baylor University. Council members, faculty, staff and students gathered to enjoy burgers and beverages before the game.
Barker Scholarship Benefits Nuclear Engineering
David G. Barker of Kerrville, Texas, endowed a scholarship for nuclear engineering undergraduates. His initial gift of $25,000, funded through the Texas A&M Foundation, will establish the David G. Barker ‘66 Scholarship. Matching funds from Ray A. Rothrock of Portola Valley, California will increase the endowment to $25,000. Barker, Texas A&M Class of 1966, earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and then a master’s degree in nuclear engineering in 1968 before beginning his career in the nuclear industry. He is currently a general manager with Dril-Quip, Inc. in Houston, Texas.
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Adams Receives “Distinguished Teaching Award” by Association of Former Students
Marvin Adams, professor, was awarded the “Distinguished Teaching Award” by the Association of Former Students. Adams was one of 24 members of the faculty and staff selected. The university-level Distinguished Awards were first presented in 1955 and have since been awarded to 882 professionals who have exhibited the highest standards of excellence at Texas A&M.
Roney Elected SEC President
Aaron Roney, nuclear engineering student, was elected President of the Student Engineering Council for the 2010-2011 academic year. Roney is a senior from Grapevine, Texas. The SEC is the representative body for the more than 12,000 students in the Dwight Look College of Engineering. The SEC represents the engineering students and professional societies to the college administration and to the university as a whole.
McDeavitt Earns Barclay Faculty Fellow
Sean McDeavitt received the Charles H. Barclay Jr. ‘45 Faculty Fellow award from the Dwight Look College of Engineering. McDeavitt was one of three professors to receive the award. He is an assistant professor in nuclear engineering, appointed in 2006. McDeavitt’s area of interest is in nuclear materials and fuel cycles.
NE Department Participates in NRC Public Outreach Meeting in Victoria
Dr. Karen Vierow, associate professor, Peter Maginot, graduate student and Marna Billiter, program coordinator, represented the department at the Public Outreach Meeting in Victoria, Texas, hosted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, on April 15, 2010. The meeting was held in response to the “early site permit” application filed by Exelon Generation for an 11,500-acre site in Victoria County. The group was on hand to answers question about the department and explain to community participants what nuclear engineers do.
Garrett Selected as Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior
Charlton Named Advisor Of The Year
Dr. William Charlton, associate professor, was named Advisor of the Year by Texas A&M University’s Department of Student Activities. Charlton advises the university’s student chapter of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM). It was through Charlton’s initiative that the first student chapter of the organization was established. Since then, and from the inspiration of the A&M chapter, six other student chapters across the United States have been formed.
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Travis Garrett, a nuclear engineering student, was selected as the Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior in the College of Engineering. He was presented with a plaque and a monetary award during the Phi Kappa Phi initiation ceremony on Sunday, April 18, 2010. Each spring, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi recognizes one outstanding junior student from each college at Texas A&M University. One of these juniors is then selected as the University Outstanding Junior. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s old-
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est, largest, and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. The organization inducts approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually from 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is granted by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors.
Yancey Named Fulbright Scholar
Kristina Yancey ‘10 received a Fulbright grant to conduct research and study in Switzerland for the 2010-2011 academic year. “This is something that I have been interested in since I was a freshman,” said Yancey. Yancey will work with the FAST Reactors Group at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. More specifically, the FAST (Fast-spectrum Advanced Systems for power production and resource management) project is an activity performed in the Laboratory for Reactor Physics and Systems Behavior of the institute in the area of fast-spectrum reactor behavior with an emphasis on the comparative analysis of the Generation IV systems. She has deferred her entrance into the nuclear engineering graduate program in order to accept the Fulbright offer.
Morel Named ANS Fellow
Professor Jim Morel was named American Nuclear Society (ANS) Fellow during the society’s annual summer meeting in San Diego, California, on June 15, 2010. The society bestows the lifetime honor on individuals who have made significant accomplishments in the fields of nuclear science and engineering. This prestigious designation is the highest individual recognition granted by ANS and acknowledges the extraordinary leadership of nuclear professionals in different disciplines relating to research, invention, engineering, safety, technical leadership and teaching. Morel was cited by the organization for having “pioneered research contributions to both deterministic and Monte Carlo charged-particle transport methods as well as many seminal contributions to general radiation transport discretization and solution techniques. His contributions resulted in the development of the three major transport codes: CEPXS/ONELD, the MITS-adjoint Monte Carlo Code and the ATTILA Code.” Morel joins fellow nuclear engineering professors Marvin Adams, Yassin Hassan, Paul Nelson, Kenneth Peddicord and John Poston as previous recipients of the designation.
AGN 201-M Teaching Reactor Restores Operations
Technical upgrades to the AGN 201-M reactor were completed over the summer of 2010. The
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teaching reactor, assembled in 1957, the AGN became the cornerstone for the evolution of the nuclear engineering department. Over the years, replacement parts became obsolete and made it necessary to upgrade the reactor’s entire instrumentation panel and circuitry. Texas A&M University is the only U.S. university with two nuclear reactors, the other a 1-MW TRIGA reactor located at the Nuclear Science Center. Having two reactors provides students several distinct advantages: allowing more “hands on” opportunities for as it is used in conjunction with the NSC; providing a look at the unique operating characteristics of two different types of reactors; and having multiple neutron sources for the other laboratories located in the Zachry Engineering Center and on campus.
McDeavitt Receives ATR NSUF Experiment Award
Sean McDeavitt, assistant professor was selected to lead one of the five new university-led research projects at the Idaho National Laboratory Advanced Test Reactor National Scientific User Facility (ATR NSUF). This highly regarded opportunity grants McDeavitt and his research team, which will include students and researchers from the Lightbridge Corporation, full access at no cost to the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) – one of the world’s premier research reactors – and other resources at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The research proposal is an irradiation and post-irradiation examination on “Irradiation Behavior and Performance of a Uranium-Zirconium Metal Alloy Fuel.” The experiment plans to demonstrate and characterize the performance of the uranium-zirconium metal alloy fuel for thermal reactors. It will be one of the first experiments to insert fuel into the reactor since the inception of the program in 2007. The research project is anticipated to take four years to complete during which the research team, along with scientists from INL, will design, prepare and insert the experiment into the reactor, conduct the experiment and analyze the results.
Department and NSC Receive DOE Grants
The Department of Nuclear Engineering and the TEES Nuclear Science Center were awarded $737,136 in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The grants were part of approximately $18.2 million awarded to help educate the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers, and to strengthen nuclear research and education capabili-
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ties at U.S. universities and colleges. The Department will receive $286,000 for “general scientific infrastructure.” Monies from the grant will be used to purchase new equipment to integrate with existing pieces to create a portable imaging suite consisting of a high-speed camera, two thermal imagers (one for research, one for classroom), and an ultrasonic imaging system. The imaging suite will be available for use by the entire nuclear engineering department, and will promote advances in curricular enhancements, develop undergraduate research experiences, increase faculty research capabilities and promote public outreach. The funding given to the Nuclear Science Center was part of the “major reactor upgrades” project. The $451,136 grant is earmarked for a cooling tower replacement, new fire alarm system, whole body exit monitor, airborne material control and facility air monitoring system at the reactor. The upgrade will provide necessary enhancements so the facility can continue its commitment to research, safety and security.
Charlton Receives Special Service Award from INMM
time and for a different course,” Shao said. “I am glad that my teaching style was well accepted by the students.”
ANS Student Chapter Creates Endowment
The TAMU student chapter of the American Nuclear Society established a fund at the Texas A&M Foundation with its share of earnings from a locally hosted national student conference. Earnings from the $25,000 endowment will be used to generate scholarships for ANS members, student travel to professional conferences, presentation of student papers at professional events, and hosting professional industry speakers. The chapter contributed an additional $1,250 to cover the administrative fee in order for next year’s students to have immediate access to earnings.
Associate professor William Charlton was awarded the “Special Service Award,” at the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland on July 13, 2010. The award focuses on noteworthy contributions to the industry or the institute, and is only one of three awards presented at the meeting. Charlton was cited “for his leadership and mentoring of university students and young professionals in nuclear materials management.”
Shao Wins Second Teaching Award
Dr. Lin Shao, assistant professor was named one of the Texas A&M University System’s top teachers in the spring 2010 presentation of the Teaching Excellence Awards, a voluntary, studentselected honors program. Shao was one of four professors in the College of Engineering named and one of 161 faculty were honored system-wide. Awards are based on rankings from evaluations created and administered by students, with weighting for factors such as class size. Faculty winners receive checks ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. Shao was recognized for his teaching of NUEN 265, Materials Science for Nuclear Engineering Applications. This is the second time Shao has received the award, he was honored in Spring 2009 for teaching NUEN 201, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering. “I am honored to receive this award for the second
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Sames Attends Washington Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation
William Sames represented the university and the State of Texas at the 2010 Washington Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation (NESD). Every summer the delegation travels to Washington, D.C., to discuss the issues facing nuclear energy, policy, education and research with key policy makers. Traditionally comprised of only nuclear engineering students, the delegation has broadened to include students from a diverse assortment of disciplines including, but not limited to, non-proliferation, national security, health physics and environmental science and policy.
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About the Department
National Rankings Among Public Universities 2nd in Undergraduate Programs 3rd in Graduate Programs Source: U.S. News & World Reports
Enrollment
292 Undergraduate Students 233 B.S. Nuclear Engineering 45 B.S. Radiological Health Engineering 111 Graduate Students 61 M.S. Nuclear Engineering 15 M.S. Health Physics 34 Ph.D. Nuclear Engineering Source: TAMU OISP, Fall 2009
Degree Programs
Undergraduate Program
The Department of Nuclear Engineering offers Bachelor of Science degrees in nuclear engineering and radiological health engineering. The undergraduate program strives to produce qualified engineers to meet the technical manpower need in the areas of nuclear energy production, space applications, and radiological health technologies. Graduates of our program find careers in government and private labs, regulatory agencies, reactor vending, utilities, architect engineering and the space program.
Graduate Program
The Department of Nuclear Engineering offers Master of Science degrees in nuclear engineering and health physics and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in nuclear engineering. Students interested in doctoral level studies in health physics can pursue these through the Ph.D. program in nuclear engineering. Research opportunities are varied, with emphasis on nuclear fields, solid/ion interactions, particle transport, large-scale scientific computing, materials, and extreme environments, reactor safety, design of advanced nuclear reactors, thermal hydraulics, computational fluid mechanics, reactor kinetics and control, plutonium disposition, space nuclear power systems, radiation interactions with living tissue, dosimetry and medical radionuclides.
Accreditation
The nuclear engineering and radiological health engineering degrees are both accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc.
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Engineering Certificate Programs
The Look College of Engineering has designed the following certificate programs to offer students the opportunity to go beyond the traditional curriculum and gain specific knowledge in a concentration area. The certificates below are of great value - both to the students who pursue them and to potential employers who seek candidates possessing these competencies. Energy Engineering Certificate Engineering Project Management Certificate Engineering Scholars Program Honors Certificate International Engineering Certificate Polymer Specialty Certificate Safety Engineering Certificate Other certificate programs available for Engineering Students: Business Management Certificate for Engineering Students
Undergraduate Research Scholars
The Undergraduate Research Scholars Program is designed to encourage exceptional undergraduate students to actively participate in independent research projects and communicate their research as an author to the research community. Completion of this program prepares students to be more competitive for national fellowships and for continuation to graduate studies. Only a select group of our undergraduate students become Undergraduate Research Scholars. Students with junior or senior standing who are currently participating in independent research are eligible to apply.
Faculty
19 Tenured/Tenure-track faculty 8 Full professors 5 Associate 6 Assistant 2 Senior Lecturers 5 Visiting Assistant Professors 3 Emeritus Faculty
Research
Fiscal Year 2010 $10.0 million in expenditures $15.0 million in new awards Fiscal Year 2009 $7.5 million in expenditures $8.6 million in awards
Texas A&M University
Our Incoming Students 2010 Undergraduate Enrollment Incoming Students 95 Incoming Students AVG SAT: 1297 • AVG ACT: 28 By Gender
By Major • NUEN - 70 • RHEN - 25
• Male - 78 • Female - 17
By Ethnicity • White - 65 • Hispanic - 10 • African American - 3 • Asian - 4 • Multi - 13
2010 Graduate Enrollment Incoming Students 35 Incoming Students AVG GPR: 3.54 • AVG GRE Verbal: 522 • AVG GRE Quantitive: 754 By Gender
By Major • M.S. NUEN - 21 • M.S. HLPH - 4 • Ph.D. NUEN - 10
• Male - 30 • Female - 5
By Ethnicity • White - 21 • Hispanic - 3 • African American - 1 • Asian - 10 NUEN = Nuclear Engineering RHEN = Radiological Health Engineering HLPH = Health Physics
2010 Distribution of Incoming Graduate Students 25 Domestic • Arkansas Tech University • California Polytechnic State University • Kansas State University • New Mexico State University • Purdue University • Resselaer Polytechnic Institute • University of Florida • University of Texas • University of Michigan - Ann Arbor • Virginia Commonwealth University • 12 from Department’s undergraduate program
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10 International • Dalian University of Technology (China) • Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia) • Handong Global University (Korea) • Harbin Shipbuilding Engineering Institute (China) • Jordan University of Science and Technology • Mangalore University • Peking University (China) • Seoul National University (Korea) • Tsinghau University (China) • University of Papua New Guinea
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Department Enrollment & Degrees Awarded Undergraduate Student Growth “Continued Growth”
Graduate Student Growth “Room to Grow”
Degrees Awarded Past Three Years B.S. NUEN B.S. RHEN M.S. NUEN M.S. HLPH M.S. MENGR Ph.D. NUEN
2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 Totals 20 28 32 80 9 4 6 19 13 11 19 43 11 2 7 20 1 1 10 8 7 25 Source: Texas A&M Office of Institutional Studies and Planning
NUEN = Nuclear Engineering RHEN = Radiological Health Engineering HLPH = Health Physics MENGR = Master of Engineering
Dwight Look College of Engineering The Dwight Look College of Engineering is the largest college on the Texas A&M campus with more than 10,000 engineering students enrolled in the 12 departments. The college is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public programs, and is among the top universities in the number of National Merit Scholars, nationally recognized faculty and funded research.
Texas A&M Engineering Enrollment (Fall 2009)
7,882 Undergraduate
2,853 Graduate
10,735 Total Source: Texas A&M Office of Institutional Studies and Planning
U.S. Colleges of Engineering Enrollment Ranking Undergraduate Georgia Tech
1
Texas A&M
2
Purdue North Carolina State Illinois
10
3 4 5
Graduate Southern California Georgia Tech Stanford
1 2 3
Texas A&M
4
Johns Hopkins
5
Source: American Society for Engineering Education (2008-2009)
Texas A&M University
Student Recognition
Fellowships, Scholarships & Awards Graduate Student Awards
• David Ames, Sandia National Laboratory Fellowship • Wesley Cardwell, NANT/INPO Fellowship • Bradley Cox, National Science Biomedical Research Institute Fellowship • Andrew Dercher, Department of Energy/Nuclear Energy University Programs Fellowship • Braden Goddard, Roy G. Post Foundation Scholarship • Joshua Jarrell, Department of Energy/NR Rickover Fellowship and American Nuclear Society Everitt P. Blizard Scholarship • Peter Maginot, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fellowship • James Miller, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office/Defense Threat Reduction Agency Fellowship • Christopher Ryan, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fellowship • Hayes Stripling, Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship and Roy G. Post Foundation Scholarship • David Wagoner, Health Physics Society Robert Gardner Fellowship
• Chelsea Murdock, NANT Scholarship • Aaron Osborne, Jeff W. Simmons ‘85 Scholarship • Jeremy Rogers, R.D. Neff Scholarship • William Sames V, Department of Energy/Nuclear Energy University Programs Scholarship and Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship • Alex Smith, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship
Undergraduate Student Awards
• Jared Tooley, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship
• Austin Blake, Gail de Planque Scholarship
Student Organizations
• Bradley Beeny, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship
• Ross Darville, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship • Oren Draznin, Eloise Vezey Dromgoole Scholarship • Kevin Dugan, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship • Travis Garrett, Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior • Ezra Ginder, American Nuclear Society Scholarship • Michael Hackemack, Department of Energy/Nuclear Energy University Programs Scholarship, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship, and NANT Scholarship • Levi Holden, Jeff W. Simmons ‘85 Scholarship • Daniel Holladay, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship • Jesse Johns, Department of Energy/Nuclear Energy University Programs Scholarship • Ryan Kelly, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship and American Nuclear Society Accelerator Apps. Div. Scholarship • Jeffrey McFarland Jr., R.D. Neff Scholarship • Carolyn McGraw, Jeff W. Simmons ‘85 Scholarship • William McNeely, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship • George Mickum, Gail de Planque Scholarship
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Nuclear Engineering students have the opportunity to participate in student chapters of four professional organizations. Each organization hosts invited speakers from around industry and government, professional development activities and workshops, student socials, a wide variety of intramural sports teams, and many other events throughout the year. Additionally, these organizations provide assistance for various public outreach activities of the Department and are officially recognized by the university. • Alpha Nu Sigma Honor Society American Nuclear Society • Health Physics Society • Institute of Nuclear Materials Management • Women in Nuclear
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Undergraduate Profile - Travis Garrett
Leading By Example and Striving for Academic Excellence
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t is said that to be a remarkable leader, we must make conscious choices to set the right examples. We should lead in the manner and even the direction that we want others to follow - by our actions rather than our words. Travis Garrett does just that – leading by his actions rather than his words. The soft-spoken senior from Cypress, Texas, is a nuclear engineering student and member of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets. Garrett is the 1st Platoon Officer and Scholastic Officer for Company S-1. As the Scholastic Officer, he is responsible for how the outfit - thirty platoon members who are mostly freshmen and sophomores - focuses on academics. These responsibilities include setting academic goals for the platoon, coordinating tutoring or other assistance from either within the Corps or by other campus resources, and motivating the group to maintain their grades. And, as with any great leader, Garrett leads his platoon by example. He entered his senior year with a 4.0 grade point ratio - an outstanding accomplishment in any field of study. He was named the Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior in the College of Engineering. Garrett is planning a career in the military, and knew that making the grades in college will help him in his future. “I came here knowing that I wanted to do well with my studies,” said Garrett. “And, having good grades now will help me get into the naval reactor program after I complete my degree.” Garrett credits being a member of the Corps with teaching him discipline and resilience, and he has used those lessons in his pursuit of his nuclear engineering degree. After graduation, he will be commissioned as an ensign in the navy.
“I came here knowing that I wanted to do well with my studies. And, having good grades now will help me get into the naval reactor program after I complete my degree.”
He has been rewarded for his academic excellence through the receiving of numerous scholarships and accolades. He has received the Thomas S. Gathright Scholar Academic Excellence Award, a scholarship from the Society of American Military Engineers, the General Rudder Corps Scholarship, and the NROTC Scholarship.
We are proud to count Travis Garrett as member of the Department of Nuclear Engineering. His dedication to leadership and academic excellence are values that have remained strong within the department for nearly fifty years. We applaud his successes and look forward to what the world holds in store for him.
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Texas A&M University
Graduate Student Profile - Hayes Stripling
Graduate School Prepares Stripling for Research Aspirations
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ayes Stripling hadn’t considered graduate school as an option as he was nearing the completion of his undergraduate degree. He was poised to enter a career in the nuclear power industry until an internship at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) changed his course.
During his internship, Stripling became aware and fascinated with the research that was being done at the lab. To Stripling, this research was not only furthering the mission of the lab, but its results could make a direct contribution to the world; and knowing that the skills being used in the research exceeded his own, graduate school became the only option.
“The idea of being involved with these kinds of efforts - both working towards solutions and identifying future challenges - seems a worthwhile and rewarding life’s work.”
Stripling has spent his graduate studies conducting research with the Computational Methods Development group focusing on uncertainty quantifications. He says this area peaked his interest because of the exposure to disciplines outside of nuclear engineering - requiring a mix of math, physics and statistics to work together. In his graduate studies, Stripling has found ways to contribute to the research projects and further his skills as a scientist. His thesis outlines a framework to allow a modeler to test or validate an existing uncertainty quantification method. By allowing the modeler to more “rigorously” treat the uncertainty in a particular problem, it provides a measure of confidence to the results. His thesis work has resulted in an article, “The Method of Manufactured Universes for Testing Uncertainty Quantification Methods,” that was coauthored by nuclear engineering professor Marvin Adams, assistant visiting professor Ryan McClarren and statistics professor Bani Mallick, and will be featured in a special edition of the Reliability Engineering & Safety Systems Journal. It is an international journal devoted to the development and application of methods for the enhancement of the safety and reliability of complex technological systems. Now, as he is about to complete his master’s degree, the fascination ignited during his internship has become a career goal. Stripling hopes to pursue a career with one of the National Laboratories after he completes his Ph.D. According to Stripling, it is at these labs where our country focuses its efforts to solve our planet’s most pertinent technical challenges. He says that being involved at this level is exciting because he would be seeking solutions that are vitally important to our society, and using top-notch expertise from across the country to do so. “The idea of being involved with these kinds of efforts – both working towards solutions and identifying future challenges – seems a worthwhile and rewarding life’s work,” said Stripling.
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Faculty Profile - Dr. Sean McDeavitt Danger? Rethinking Nuclear Waste
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growing number of energy experts and even environmentalists are calling for wider use of nuclear energy to reduce our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels without contributing to global climate change. Critics ask, “But what will we do with the radioactive waste?” Nuclear engineer Sean McDeavitt thinks that’s the wrong question. “Most people live at the ‘What are you going to do with the waste?’ question,” says McDeavitt, an assistant professor and specialist in reactor fuels and nuclear materials in Texas A&M’s Department of Nuclear Engineering. “They’re already assuming a certain path with that. It presupposes that used fuel is all waste that we’re going to figure out how to deal with. This also assumes that the solution is a vast mystery that no one understands.” But new designs for advanced nuclear reactors and the fuel that powers them could make nuclear waste as we now think of it a thing of the past, he says. “It all comes down to the presuppositions,” he says. “If you restructure your design philosophy forward, you can manage the majority of the long-lived waste out of the picture, to a certain extent.”
Fission 101 Most of us understand at least the outline of how atomic fission works: A neutron zaps into a pile of uranium atoms and splits one. Fragments from that split atom (“nuclear shrapnel,” McDeavitt calls them) include newly liberated neutrons that zip out and in turn split other atoms, and so on. As this splitting, or fission, continues, it produces energy, which we see as the heat that turns water into steam that turns turbines to give us electricity. “Nuclear energy is a fancy way to boil water,” McDeavitt says. “If you’ve got coal, you can boil water the old-fashioned way.” The atoms in that pile are uranium atoms, but uranium is only the beginning, especially for the sort of advanced reactors McDeavitt is talking about. The fuel used in most commercial reactors starts as a metal ore containing uranium, abbreviated as U. Most reactors use uranium dioxide, or UO2, a combination of uranium and oxygen, although some fuels are alloys of uranium and other metals. Fuels also can be made by combining uranium with nitrogen, silicon, carbon or hydrogen. “You can make fuels out of nitrides or carbides or silicides or hydrides or essentially any kind of chemistry that will hold the uranium in a solid form and get it into the system,” McDeavitt says.
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Other fuel variations can be fabricated, but most often they’re reserved for niche applications, usually in research reactors. The main function of the fuel is to get the uranium into the presence of the neutrons that cause them to split apart. Fuel design aims to fine-tune that fission process, depending on exactly what engineers want to have happen during fission and afterward. Whenever nuclear fission takes place, the splitting of the uranium atoms results in chemical changes in the fuel involved. After a while, those changes produce elements quite different from the uranium we started with. “You almost have the entire periodic table by the time you’re done,” McDeavitt says.
“The vision would be to develop a reactor that does not require fuel enrichment and that does not require reprocessing. Take away these major proliferation risks and ‘nuclear’ becomes not so a dirty word.” Future reactors New reactors envisioned by nuclear engineers range from what nuclear energy specialists call Generation 4 reactors, essentially improved, safer, more fuel-efficient versions of the reactors we use today, to even more advanced designs such as what’s known as a traveling-wave reactor that TerraPower is designing. McDeavitt’s research focuses on the fuel these advanced reactors will use rather than on the design of the reactors themselves. One way to visualize how a traveling-wave reactor works is to imagine the reactor as a line, rod or stick with a wave moving along it. The wave is the nuclear reaction, and it moves slowly (a few centimeters per year) along the fuel in the reactor as the fuel is changed by the continuing reaction. A similar reactor that engineers in Japan are studying is called a candle reactor, because the fuel is “lit” at one end and “burns” to the other end like a flame on a horizontal candle. Unlike conventional reactors, in which fuel is replaced every three to four years, the fuel in traveling-wave reactors could be in place for 40 to 50 years, and the residue left when the reaction has traveled through all the fuel could be used to fuel other reactors rather than being reprocessed or stored. “The vision would be to develop a reactor that does not require fuel enrichment and that does not require reprocessing,” McDeavitt says. “Take away these major proliferation risks and ‘nuclear’ becomes not so dirty a word around the society.”
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The future of fuel
maintained as UO2.
Another project from McDeavitt’s current research is concentrated on a potential new fuel that may be used in current-generation reactor systems. This new fuel form was invented at Purdue University, and McDeavitt is now working with IBC Advanced Alloys of Vancouver, Canada, to establish engineering-scale fabrication methods. The fuel combines uranium dioxide and beryllium oxide to produce higher thermal conductivity in the fuel. Developing it is a cross between materials science and manufacturing methods, he says.
“With engineering, everything has issues. That’s what I tell my students,” McDeavitt says. “You just have to choose which issues to overcome and make the system work.
“We’re down to engineering the morphology, the form and structure, of the fuel material,” he says.
Written by Gene Charlton, first published in “Texas A&M Engineer,” 2010.
The goal is to develop a combination of uranium dioxide and beryllium oxide particles that when combined into fuel pellets, allows reactors using it to operate more efficiently than with current fuels. Essentially, the fuel fabrication method starts with a powder made up of tiny balls of uranium dioxide about 500 microns, or half a millimeter, in diameter and smaller bits of beryllium oxide. These particles are pressed and then sintered, or heated and pressed together, into pellets that go into tubes that make up the reactor core. Understanding the structure of the fuel material is crucial, because a homogeneous mixture behaves differently from a heterogeneous mixture, and heterogeneous mixtures’ behavior can be different, depending on how the ingredients are combined. It’s complicated. For instance, if you sinter and press the fuel in an oxygen atmosphere (such as air), the uranium becomes U3O8. If it’s done in an argon or argon–hydrogen atmosphere, it will be
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“So when people ask, ‘What are you going to do about the waste?’ they’ve already assumed you have to do something with the waste. That’s already assuming it is waste and not another raw material. “I like to assume it is a useful raw material.”
Dr. Sean McDeavitt Assistant Professor Appointed 2006 2010 Recipient of the Charles H. Barclay, Jr. ‘45 Faculty Fellow from the Texas A&M University College of Engineering B.S., M.S., and Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University Research Interests • Nuclear materials science • Nuclear fuel behavior and processing • Materials processing in the nuclear fuel cycle • High temperature materials science
Texas A&M University
Affiliated Centers & Institutes Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute
The Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI) is a university-based entity that focuses on graduate education, research, and service on a variety of topics related to the safeguarding of nuclear materials and the reduction of nuclear threats. NSSPI works in collaboration with our national laboratories and other partners to develop technological solutions to problems associated with the malicious use of nuclear materials and to study policy issues related to nuclear security. NSSPI conducts research, educates students, hosts seminars, offers short courses, and provides direct support to Department of Energy (DOE) programs. In the 2009-2010 Academic Year, NSSPI faculty, staff, and students had a number of exciting accomplishments, including: the first direct quantitative measurement of Pu in LWR spent fuel using X-ray fluorescence (in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory), completed the design of the SINRD (Self-Interrogation Neutron Resonance Densitometry) detector (in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory) and began acceptance testing of the instrument for safeguards measurement of fresh fuel assemblies, developed the first technique for estimating nuclear latency, demonstrated the value of directionally sensitive sensors for detecting smuggled HEU, published a textbook on India’s nuclear fuel cycle, helped coordinate and host an international workshop on proliferation resistance, deployed the Nuclear Safeguards Education Portal (http://nsspi.tamu.edu/NSEP) as an online educational resource, co-hosted (with Los Alamos National Laboratory) a workshop to train faculty in nuclear safeguards education, and taught the first technical course at Texas A&M University on the design and analysis of technical mechanisms to secure nuclear facilities against nuclear terrorism. NSSPI was established by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents in March 2006. A grant from the Department of Energy provided the initial funding. Today, NSSPI is responsible for over $5.5 million of externally-funded research at Texas A&M University.
Center for Large-scale Scientific Simulations
CLASS manages several multidisciplinary computational research projects involving faculty and students from Center for Large-scale Scientific Simulations nuclear engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, statistics, and mathematics. CLASS facilitates the development of multidisciplinary computational research proposals across colleges and departments, and is pursuing new educational programs in computational science at Texas A&M University.
Nuclear Science Center
This facility has a 1-megawatt TRIGA reactor, an open “swimming pool” type research reactor operating with LEU fuel. The core is positioned 26 feet below the surface of the water and cooled by natural convection. It can be pulsed and the facility hosts a variety of other features including experimental laboratories, a large irradiation cell, beam ports, a thermal column and a pneumatic “rabbit” system. The Nuclear Science Center (NSC) continues to play a critical role for nuclear science and engineering at Texas A&M University and the Department of Nuclear Engineering. The TRIGA reactor facility is a nationally well-respected test and learning center serving the needs of students, researchers, industrial sponsors, and nuclear industry stakeholders. The past year, funds secured from the Department of Energy (Global Threat Reduction Initiative, or GTRI) were used to upgrade the security at the facility to reduce - to even lower levels - the risk of theft or sabotage of radioactive materials. The NSC offers a critical and essential element of experiential learn-
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ing for students in our Nuclear Engineering Department. Having a reactor on campus at a time of general resurgence of interest in nuclear power is an enviable position to be in, from the standpoint of any Nuclear Engineering educator in the country.
Nuclear Power Institute
To respond to the challenge of developing the nuclear workforce for the operating and anticipated reactors in Texas, the Nuclear Power Institute (NPI) has put together a partnership involving six universities, six community colleges, industry, government agencies, high schools and middle schools, teachers, and civic and elected leaders. During 2009-2010, NPI was awarded a $1 million grant from the Texas Workforce Commission and a $4 million grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. NPI has developed a certificate program for university students in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, engineering physics and engineering technology at Prairie View A&M University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. NPI has also developed active outreach programs to inform students and teachers about careers in the nuclear industry. In addition to talks at high schools, NPI has participated in college days and career nights. Additional programs have focused on underserved students. Powerful Opportunities for Women Eager and Ready for Science, Engineering and Technology (POWER SET) focusing on students ranging from sophomore to senior and emphasizing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and Workforce Industry Training (WIT), focusing on young men, have been established. For teachers, the Enrichment Experiences in Engineering (E3) teams teachers with nuclear engineering faculty members to develop laboratory experiences, curricula and/or demonstrations that can be taken back to their classrooms to acquaint students with basic principles related to nuclear technology.
Space Engineering Research Center
The Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) facility provides top-level research in the areas of thermal management, power management, nuclear and solar power, space situational awareness, and wireless power transmission. In the past year, much of the Center’s activity has focused on the areas of space situational awareness and thermal management through research projects with the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Department of Energy, NASA, and several commercial sponsors. Recently, a commercialization agreement was set into place to market the creation of SERC’s research staff, the vortex phase separator. Its many space and terrestrial applications have the outlook looking bright for future projects in the area of thermal and fluid management. Through its highly-successful student program, the Systems Engineering Initiative, SERC continues to interact with Texas A&M University students, giving them not only valuable knowledge and skills, but hands-on experience in developing new technologies and applications. SERC has held true to its mission statement to “develop space engineering technology by teaming with industry, academia, and government.” Affiliations and past experiences with government and commercial operations have increased proposal activity and set the expectations for the Center’s success at a very high level for the remainder of this fiscal year and beyond. With many new programs and projects on the horizon, SERC looks forward to maintaining its status as a go-to center for all entities looking to advance space technology.
Texas A&M University
Faculty
Raymond J. Juzaitis
Department Head and Director, Nuclear Engineering Division TEES Holder of the Sallie and Don ‘61 Davis Professorship in Engineering Ph.D., University of Virginia rjuzaitis@tamu.edu As Department Head and Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Juzaitis provides academic and administrative leadership to the largest Nuclear Engineering Department in the United States. Previous to Texas A&M, he accrued twenty-eight years of experience in the management and execution of National Security R&D programs at the Department of Energy National Laboratories. Early career focus in nuclear computational physics paved the way for a broadbased technical career that included nuclear weapons design, development, testing, and evaluation. Career assignments included two changes of station in senior advisory positions in the U.S. government: at the Pentagon (DoD), as well as at Defense Programs in DOE/NNSA. His last sixteen years at the labs were devoted to technical/line and program management with increasing levels of responsibility, covering the full breadth of nuclear weapon program activities. In the mid- to late-1990’s, as X-Division Leader at Los Alamos, Juzaitis led the transition in technical culture of nuclear weapon design from a nuclear testing-based paradigm to a simulation-based paradigm (Science-Based Stockpile Stewardship). He served in senior management (Associate Director) positions at two nuclear weapons laboratories: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
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During his final years at the National Laboratories, programmatic focus shifted to Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Intelligence and CounterTerrorism/Homeland Security programs. Juzaitis joined the department in 2007. During his tenure, he has increased the number of faculty, saw enrollment growth in the both the undergraduate and graduate programs, created the “Nuclear Society and Technology Invited Speaker Series,” and improved outreach activities and communications with former students. Additionally, he revamped the Department’s Advisory Council to emphasize mutual relationships with the laboratories, nuclear industry and government.
Marvin L. Adams
Professor Holder of the Heat Transfer Research Institute Professorship Director, Institute for National Security Education and Research Ph.D., University of Michigan mladams@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Computational transport theory • Large-scale scientific computing • Nuclear reactor analysis • Predictive science and engineering SPONSORED RESEARCH “Center for Predictive Engineering and Computational Science,” University of Texas at Austin, 20082013, Co-Principal Investigator “Center for Radiative Shock Hydrodynamics,” University of Michigan, 2008-2013, Co-Principal Investigator “ARI-LA: A Framework for Developing Novel Detection Systems Focused on Interdicting Shielded HEU,” U.S. Department of Home-
land Security, 2007-2012, Co-Principal Investigator “Computational Research in Support of Stockpile Stewardship,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,” 2008-2013, Co-Principal Investigator “Institute for Applied Mathematical and Statistical Sciences,” King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 2008-2013, Co-Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Conference Proceedings Zeyun Wu and Marvin L. Adams, “Advances in Inverse Transport Methods,” International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, Xi’an, China, May 2010.
technology platforms for the delivery of diagnostic and therapy agents • Systems Biology and Radiobiology The paradigm of stem cell and accelerated cell repopulation and differentiation after radiotherapy Genomics and proteomics studies of the long-term effects of radiation on normal tissues In vitro stem cell toxicity of low and high LET radiation Cellular DNA damage repair mechanisms after high LET radiation • Drug discovery and development Translational studies of radioimmunotherapy agents using small (rodents) and large animals models (canine) In vivo study of biological targets (cytokines, growth factors, etc.) as radiation response modifiers Convection enhanced delivery (CED) of drugs
Gamal Akabani
Associate Professor Ph.D., Texas A&M University akabani@ne.tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Radiotherapy physics Integration of PET-CT based biological markers into radiation treatment planning Development of quality control and assurance for image-guided radiotherapy Medical physics in large animal models of cancer Proton and heavy ion therapy of cancer • Medical Nuclear Physics Research production and distillation of the alpha particle emitting radionuclide At-211 Production of PET radionuclides Radio-synthesis of targeted agents for diagnosis and therapy Dosimetry and microdocimetry of high LET radiations Targeted radionuclide therapy using alpha particle emitting radionuclides Development of nuclear nano-
Fred Best, P.E.
Associate Professor Director, Space Engineering Research Center Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology fbest@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Zero Gravity Two Phase Flow • Reactor Thermal Hydraulics • Interphase Transport Phenomena SPONSORED RESEARCH “Engineering Institute Comprehensive Outreach Program for UnderUtilized Groups,” NASA - Johnson Space Center, 2006-2009, Co-Principal Investigator “PLSS Water Pump Development for Exploration Technology,” NASA - Johnson Space Center, 2008-2009, Co-Principal Investigator “Support of NASA GRC and Boeing Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Demonstration,” NASA - Glenn Research
Texas A&M University
Center, 2008-2009, Principal Investigator
Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2009),” American Nuclear Society, June 14-19, 2009, Atlanta, GA, paper 208198 (2009).
“Modeling Pore Multi-Component Evaporation,” Boeing Company, 2009, Principal Investigator “Lunar Radiator Modeling and Analysis,” Boeing Company, 2009, Principal Investigator “Phase I Program, Adaptive Phase Management and Mixing Enhancement,” 2009, Principal Investigator “A Highly Stabic Two Phase Thermal Management System,” Creare, 2009, Principal Investigator “FY09 Earmark Entitled ‘Space Engineering Institute,’” NASA Shared Services Center, 2009-2011, Co-Principal Investigator “A Highly Stabic Two Phase Thermal Management System - Phase II,” Creare, 2010-2011, Co-Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles L. Shao, A. Shephard, F. Best, “Comprehensive Gas Ejector Model,” Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, July 2010. Conference Proceedings C. Schwendeman, R. Hay, F. Best, and C. Kurwitz, “Optimization of Various Thermal Management Techniques for High Thermal Loads,” SSC10-VII-4 2010 Small Satellite Conference, Logan, UT., Aug. 9-12, 2010. M. Schuller, C. Kurwitz, F. Little, R. Oinuma, B. Larsen, J. Goldman, F. Reinis, F. Best, “Custom Unit Pump Development for the Extravehicular Activity Portable Life Support System,” Proc. 40th International Conference on Environmental Systems, AIAA, Barcelona, Spain, July 11-15, 2010. L. Gaul, Z. Papas, C. Kurwitz, F. Best, “Equilibrium Interface Position During Operation of a Fixed Cylinder Vortex Separator,” Space Propulsion and Energy Forum, February 2010.
“Piezoelectric Sensors on American Cockroaches,” National Science Foundation, 2008-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Real-Time Detection of Actinide Compositions in the UREX+ Process,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2007-2010, Co-Principal Investigator
Shannon Bragg-Sitton Assistant Professor Ph.D., University of Michigan sitton@tamu.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Applications of nuclear technology to space power and propulsion systems • Nuclear systems testing • Application of autonomous control systems to nuclear reactors • Interaction of cosmic radiation with space vehicles SPONSORED RESEARCH “A Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Network for Online 3D Temperature and Neutron Fluence Mapping in a Very High Temperature Reactor Environment,” Department of Energy Nuclear Energy University Programs, 2009-2012, Co-Principal Investigator “Low-Capacity Fission Power Systems: Rapid Development Using a Nonnuclear Test Approach,” U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Early Career Enrichment Project, 2009-2010 “Mixed Fluence Irradiation of Candidate Alternator Materials (for application to Stirling power conversion for Lunar power system),” Sest, Inc (NASA Glenn Research Center), 2010, Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles Bragg-Sitton, S.M., Godfroy, T.J., and Webster, K.L., “Improving the Fidelity of Electrically Heated Nuclear Systems Testing Using Simulated Neutronic Feedback,” Nuclear Engineering and Design, in press, DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2010.04.036 (2010). Bragg-Sitton, S.M., Hervol, D.S., and Godfroy, T.J., “Testing of an Integrated Reactor Core Simulator and Power Conversion System with Simulated Reactivity Feedback in proceedings of the Nuclear and
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Novel Detection Systems Focused on Interdicting Shielded HEU,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008-2012, Principal Investigator
William S. Charlton
Associate Professor Director, Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute Ph.D., Texas A&M University wcharlton@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Developing technical mechanisms to detect, prevent and deter malicious uses of nuclear and radiological materials and facilities • Developing nuclear safeguards and nuclear security technologies SPONSORED RESEARCH “Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program,” (Medical University of South Carolina) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, 2009-2012, Principal Investigator “Security Enhancements for the Radioactive Sources at TAMU,” Sandia National Laboratories, 2009-2012, Co-Principal Investigator “Measurement and Modeling of Shielding and Attenuation Effects on Radiation Portal Monitors,” Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 20092010, Principal Investigator “Training for DOE Security Upgrades to TAMU Facilities,” Sandia National Laboratories, 2009, CoPrincipal Investigator “Nuclear Security Science Graduate Certificate at TAMU,” Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2009-2010, Principal Investigator “Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute: Enhancing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime,” National Nuclear Security Administration, 2006-2010, Principal Investigator “A Framework for Developing
“Development of Joint US-Russia Education Program,” Department of Education (through University of Maryland), 2007-2009, Co-Principal Investigator “Russian Academic Program in Nonproliferation and International Security,” U.S. Department of Energy (DOE/NA-24) through West Texas A&M University, 2005-2009, Principal Investigator “Development of Verification Methods for Spent Fuel Discharge,” Los Alamos National Laboratory, 20072010, Principal Investigator “Technical Support for DOE Sister Laboratory Program,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2007-2011, Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Books Published T.V.K. Woddi, W.S. Charlton, and P. Nelson, India’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Unraveling the Impact of the U.S.-India Nuclear Accord, Synthesis Lectures on Nuclear Technology and Society, Morgan & Claypool Publishers, 2009. Journal Articles B. Goddard, W.S. Charlton, and S.M. McDeavitt, “Real-Time Detection of UREX+3A Extraction Streams for Materials Accountancy,” JNMM, 38(1), pp. 34-39 (2009). W.B. Wilson, R.T. Perry, W.S. Charlton, and T.A. Parish, “Sources: A Code for Calculating (alpha, n), Spontaneous Fission, and Delayed Neutron Sources and Spectra,” Progress in Nuclear Energy, 51, pp. 608-613 (2009). Conference Proceedings B. Goddard, W.S. Charlton, and A.L. Lousteau, “Mass Verification Method for Actinide Mixtures Using a Multi-
Texas A&M University
Energy Spectrum Active Well Coincidence Counter,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. S. Saavedra, W. Charlton, A. Solodov, and M. Ehinger, “Using NDA Techniques to Improve Safeguards Metrics on Burnup Quantification and Plutonium Content in LWR SNF,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. J.S. Feener and W.S. Charlton, “The Impact of Front End NonDestructive Assay Techniques on Accountancy Systems at Reprocessing Facilities,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. A.A. Solodov, W.S. Charlton, S. Saavedra, and L. Khodalev, “The Use of Self-induced XRF to Quantify the Pu Content in MOX Spent Nuclear Fuel,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. C.M. Marianno, D.R. Boyle, W.S. Charlton, and G.M. Gaukler, “A Guide for Detector Development and Deployment,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. A.S. Stafford, W.S. Charlton, and C.R. Freeman, “Exploration of X-Ray Fluorescence Spent Nuclear Fuel Source Term,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. K.A. Miller and W.S. Charlton, “An Inverse Source Location Algorithm for Radiation Portal Monitor Applications,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. J. Miller and W. Charlton, “Measurement of Uranium in Bio Matrices for Nuclear Forensic Purposes,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010.
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S. Chirayath, W. Charlton, A. Stafford, C. Myers, B. Goddard, J. Alfred, M. Carroll, M. Sternat, and E. Rauch, “Risk Informed Safeguards Integration Studies for a Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. C. Ryan, C. Marianno, W. Charlton, A. Solodov, and J. Livesay, “Determining the Effects of Construction Materials on Background Readings for Second Line of Defense Program Portal Monitoring Systems,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. G.R. Hundley and W.S. Charlton, “Determining Acquisition Pathways for a Radiological Dispersal Device,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. A.M. LaFleur, W.S. Charlton, H.O. Menlove, M.T. Swinhoe, S.Y. Lee, and S.J. Tobin, “Experimental Benchmark of MCNPX Calculations Against Self-Interrogation Neutron Resonance Densitometry (SINRD) Fresh Fuel Measurements,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. D.G. Ford, W.S. Charlton, and K. Ragusa, “Safeguards Education at Texas A&M University,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. D.G. Ford, W.S. Charlton, R. Tribble, C.M. Folden III, and W. Rundell, “Nuclear Forensics Certificate Program Development at TAMU,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. C.T. Myers, W.S. Charlton, and D.G. Ford, “Risk Analysis and Management of State Nuclear Security Measures,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. C.A. Gariazzo, W. Charlton, and
K.L. Peddicord, “U.S.-Russian Academic Collaborations at Texas A&M University,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. J. White, W.S. Charlton, and A. Solodov, “Applications of X-ray Fluorescence Fission Product Correlations for Nuclear Forensics,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. M.R. Sternat, W.S. Charlton, T.S. Nichols, R. Webb, and D.M. Beals, “Reactor Physics Modeling of Spent Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel for SNM Attribution and Nuclear Forensics,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. W.S. Charlton, M.D. Zentner, and A.M. LaFleur, “Results from the 2010 International Workshop for Users of Proliferation Assessment Tools Held at Texas A&M University,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. K.A. Miller and W.S. Charlton, “An Inverse Method for Locating a Radioactive Source Using a Distributed Array of Detectors,” Transactions of the 2010 American Nuclear Society Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, June 13-17, 2010. D. Sweeney and W.S. Charlton, “Benchmarking TransLAT for Fission Product Generation,” Proceedings of the PHYSOR 2010, Pittsburgh, PA, May 9-14, 2010. A.M. LaFleur, W.S. Charlton, H.O. Menlove, M.T. Swinhoe, and S. Tobin, “Comparison of Using SelfInterrogation Neutron Resonance Densitometry (SINRD) versus the Fork Detector (FDET) to Measure Partial Defects in Spent Fuel Assemblies,” Transactions of the 2009 American Nuclear Society Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C., November 15-19, 2009. W.S. Charlton, D.G. Ford, W.D. Reece, W.H. Hsu, and K. Ragusa, “Nuclear Safeguards Education Portal at Texas A&M University,” Transactions of the 2009 American
Nuclear Society Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C., November 15-19, 2009. D.J. Sweeney and W.S. Charlton, “Latency as a Basis for Safeguards,” Transactions of the 2009 American Nuclear Society Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C., November 15-19, 2009.
John Ford
Associate Professor ABET Coordinator Ph.D., University of Tennessee ford@ne.tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • The effects of terrestrial and cosmic radiation on tissues, in particular the damaging effects of radiation on respiratory tissue SPONSORED RESEARCH “Small Active Dosimetry System For Lunar Extravehicular Activity Missions: Spacesuit and Tool-Box Applications,” National Space Biomedical Research Institute, 2007 - 2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Microbeam Irradiations of C. elegans,” Loma Linda University Medical Center, 2008 - 2010, CoPrincipal Investigator “Center for Bio-nanotechnology and Environmental Research (C-BER),” Texas Southern University, 2009 2010, Co-Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles J. W. Poston, Sr. and J. R. Ford, “How do we combine science and regulations for decision making following a terrorist incident involving radioactive materials,” Health Physics 97(5), 537-541, (2009). J. K Wagner, J. A. Dillon, E. K. Blythe, and J. Ford, “Dose characterization of the RadSource 2400 X-ray
Texas A&M University
irradiator for oyster pasteurization,” Applied Radiation and Isotopes 67(2), 334-339 (2009).
A. Posner, S. Guetersloh, B. Heber, O. Rother, A New Trend in Forecasting Solar Radiation Hazards, Space Weather, 7, S05001 (2009). Conference Proceedings S. Guetersloh, J. Miller, L. Taylor, C. Zeitlin, L. Heilbronn, T. Komiyama, M. DiGiuseppe, Y. Iwata, T. Murakami , “Lunar Soil as In-Situ Shielding,” Proceedings of Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space 2009 (2009).
Stephen Guetersloh
Assistant Professor Ph.D., Colorado State University guetersloh@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • The effects of high-energy heavy charged particles interacting in matter • Investigations related to the beneficial uses of accelerated ions as applied to non-invasive tumor treatment and control • Space weather forecasting and prediction RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles S.Guetersloh, N. Zapp, “Energetic Particles and Manned Space Flight”, Chapter in “Heliphysics II. Space Storms and Radiation: Causes and Effect,” Cambridge Press (2010). Zeitlin, C., Guetersloh, S., Heilbronn, L., Miller, J., Fukumura, A., Iwata, Y., Murakami, T., Sihver, L., “Nuclear Fragmentation Database for GCR Transport Code Development, Advances in Space Research,” doi: 10.1016/j.asr.2010.04.035 (2010). Zhou, D., Semones, E., Guetersloh, S., Zapp, N., Weyland, M., Benton, E.R., “The experimental and simulated LET spectrum and charge spectrum from CR-39 detectors exposed to irons near CRaTER at BNL,” Radiation Measurements, doi: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2010.02.014, (2010). S. Guetersloh, M. VanBaalen, C. Zeitlin, B. Gersey, “Radiation Hazards and NASA’s Exploration of Mars,” chapter in “Particle Radiation Hazards en route to Mars”, International Aeronautics and Astronautics, (Submitted: Feb. 2009).
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Yassin A. Hassan Professor
Joint Appointment with Mechanical Engineering
Associate Department Head Ph.D., University of Illinois y-hassan@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Computational and experimental thermal hydraulics • Reactor Safety • Fluid Mechanics • Two-phase flow • Turbulence and laser velocimetry • Imaging techniques SPONSORED RESEARCH “Experimental and CFD Analysis of Advanced Convective Cooling System,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2007-2010, Co-Principal Investigator
“Basic Research on High Temperature Gas Reactor Thermal Fluid and Reactor Physics,” Oregon State University, 2008-2013, Co-Principal Investigator “Measurements of Turbulent Flow in Rod Bundles Using Time-Resolved Particle Image Velocimetry Technique,” GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, 2009-2011, Principal Investigator
“High-Resolution Study of Particle Transport and Deposition on Environmental Surfaces,” U.S. Department of Defense - Defense Threat Reduction Agency, 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Studies on the Core Bypass Flow in a Very High Temperature Reactor,” Battelle Energy Alliance/Idaho National Laboratory, 2010, Principal Investigator
“Studies on the Core Bypass Flow in a Very High Temperature Reactor,” Battelle Energy Alliance/Idaho National Laboratory, 2009, Principal Investigator
“Infrastructure Enhancement Via Optical, Ultrasonic and Thermal Imaging Equipment,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2010-2011, Co-Principal Investigator
“Computational Fluid Dynamics Studies for Rod Bundles,” Electric Power Research Institute, 2009-2010, Principal Investigator
RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles A. Frisani, Y. Hassan, V. Ugaz, “Three-Dimensional Analysis the Very High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors Cavity Cooling System Using Computational Fluid Dynamics,” accepted for publication Nuclear Technology, (2010).
“Two-Phase Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Methodology Development,” Westinghouse Electric Company, 2009-2010, Principal Investigator “Nuclear Energy University Programs - Infrastructure Report,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Fundamental Investigation of Transport Phenomena in Convectively Actuated Biochemical Reactors,” National Science Foundation, 20092012, Co-Principal Investigator “Computational Fluid Dynamics Model Development and Validation for High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor Cavity Cooling System Application,” Battelle Energy Alliance/ Idaho National Laboratory, 20092012, Principal Investigator
“Two-Phase Flow Measurements in a Fuel Rod Bundle,” Areva NP, 20072009, Principal Investigator
“Investigation on the Core Bypass Flow in a Very High Temperature Reactor,” Battelle Energy Alliance/ Idaho National Laboratory, 20092012, Principal Investigator
“Devices for Effective Sampling of Bioaerosol,” U.S. Army-Edgewood Research, Development and Engineering Center, 2008-2009, Co-Principal Investigator
“Study of Air Ingress Across the Duct During the Accident Conditions,” Battelle Energy Alliance/Idaho National Laboratory, 2009-2012, Co-Principal Investigator
“Computational Fluid Dynamics for Nuclear Applications Curriculum Development to Facilitate Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century,” Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2008-2010, Co-Principal Investigator
“Investigation of the Flow Behavior that Can Occur in the Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS),” University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009-2010, Principal Investigator
C.E.Estrada-Perez, Y. Hassan, “PTV Experiments of Subcooled Boiling Flow through a Vertical Rectangular Channel,” International Journal of Multiphase Flow, (2010). E. Dominguez-Ontiveros, S. Fortenberry, Y. A. Hassan, “Experimental Observations of Flow Modifications in Nanofluid Boiling Utilizing Particle Image Velocimetry,” Nuclear Engineering and Design Vol. 240, pp. 299-304 (2010). K. Kang, Y. Hassan, “A Comparative Study of Direct-Forcing Immersed Boundary-Lattice Boltzmann Methods for Stationary Complex Boundaries,” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids,” (2010). S. Ozturk, Y. Hassan, and V. Ugaz, “Interfacial Complexation Explains Anomalous Diffusion in Nanofluids,” Nano Letters, 10, pp. 665-671, (2010). E. Dominguez-Ontivores, S. Fortenberry and Y. Hassan, “Non-intrusive Experimental Investigation of Flow Behavior Inside a 5x5 Rod Bundle with Spacer Grids using PIV and MIR,” Nuclear Engineering and Design Journal, Vol. 239, (2010). Conference Summaries C. Kang, E. Dominguez-Ontiveros
Texas A&M University
and Y. Hassan, “Pressure Drop in a Pebble Bed Reactor,” presented at 2010 ANS Meeting, June 2010, San Diego, California and published in ANS Transaction, Vol. 102, 2010. N. Amini and Y. Hassan, “Application PIV and POD Techniques to Reconstruct the Vorticity Fields of Jet Flows Injecting into a Rod Bundle,” presented at 2010 ANS Meeting, June 2010, San Diego, California and published in ANS Transaction, Vol. 102, 2010. A. Frisani, V. Ugaz and Y. Hassan, “On the Effect of Turbulence Modeling and Near-Wall Treatment in Simulating Heat Exchanger in the Reactor Cavity Cooling System Using STAR-CCM+ CFD Code,” presented at 2009 ANS Winter Meeting, November 2009, Washington, D.C. and published in ANS Transaction, Vol. 101, 2009. N. Amini and Y. Hassan, “Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Analysis of Jet Flows Injecting into a Rod Bundle,” presented at 2009 ANS Winter Meeting, November 2009, Washington, D.C. and published in ANS Transaction, Vol. 101, 2009.
Co-Principal Investigator
Sean M. McDeavitt Assistant Professor Ph.D., Purdue University mcdeavitt@ne.tamu.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Nuclear materials science • Nuclear fuel behavior and processing • Materials processing in the nuclear fuel cycle • High temperature materials science SPONSORED RESEARCH “Powder Metallurgy of Uranium Alloy Fuels for TRU-Burning Fast Reactors,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2007-2010, Principal Investigator “Fuel Cycle and Materials Laboratory Capability Upgrade: Themophysical Property Analyses for Advanced Fuels,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2007-2009, Principal Investigator
William H. Marlow Professor Undergraduate Program Coordinator Ph.D., University of Texas w-marlow@tamu.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Physics of molecular clusters and small particle interactions - aerosols • Applications in materials, radioactivity and disperse materials • Environmental and health protection SPONSORED RESEARCH “High-resolution Study of Particle Transport and Deposition on Environmental Surfaces,” U.S. Department of Defense: Defense Threat Reduction Agency, 2009-2011,
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“Real-Time Detection of Actinide Compositions in the UREX+Process,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2007-2011, Principal Investigator “Fuel Development Support - Battelle Energy Alliance, 2008-2009, Co-Principal Investigator “Development and Thermal Characterization of Enhanced Thermal Conductivity U02-BeO Fuel,” Purdue University, 2008-2010, Principal Investigator “Fuel Performance Experiments an Modeling: Fission Gas Bubble Nucleation and Growth in Alloy Nuclear Fuels,” Battelle Energy Alliance, 2009-2012, Co-Principal Investigator “Experiments in Spent Fuel,” Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2010, Principal Investigator
“RERTR Fuel Development: Particle Coatings & Thermal Properties,” Battelle Energy Alliance/Idaho National Laboratory, 2010-2011, Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles Luis H. Ortega, Michael D. Kaminski and S.M. McDeavitt, “Pollucite and Feldspar Formation in Sintered Bentonite for Nuclear Waste Immobilization,” accepted for publication in J. Applied Clay Science (2010). A.J. Parkison and S.M. McDeavitt, “Hydride Formation Process Development for the Powder Metallurgical Recycle of Zircaloy,” accepted for publication in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A (2010). Editor’s Choice for Open Access Publication B. Goddard, W.S. Charlton and S.M. McDeavitt, “Development of a RealTime Detection Strategy for Process Monitoring during Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing using the UREX+3a Method,” accepted for publication in Nuclear Engineering and Design (2010). J. Lapinskas, S. Zielinski, J. A. Webster, R. P. Taleyarkhan and S.M. McDeavitt, “Tension Metastable Fluid Detection Systems for Special Nuclear Material Detection and Monitoring,” accepted for publication in Nuclear Engineering and Design (2010). E.G. Fu, J. Carter, M. Martin, Q. Xie, X. Z., Y.Q. Wang, R. Littleton, S.M. McDeavitt, and L. Shao, “Ar-ionmilling-induced structural changes of Cu50Zr45Ti5 metallic glass,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B 268, 545 (2010). B. Goddard, W.S. Charlton, and S.M. McDeavitt, “Real-Time Detection of UREX+3a Extraction Streams for Materials Accountancy,” Journal of Nuclear Materials Management 38(1): 34-39 (2009). A.R. Totemeier and S.M. McDeavitt, “Powder Metallurgical Fabrication of Zirconium Matrix Cermet Nuclear Fuels,” Journal of Materials Science, 44(20): 5494-5500 (2009). J. Carter, E.G. Fu, M. Martin, G. Xie, X. Zhang, Y.Q. Wang, D. Wijesundera, X.M. Wang, Wei-Kan Chu, S.M. McDeavitt and L. Shao, “Ion
Irradiation Induced Nanocrystal Formation in Amorphous Zr55Cu30AlNi5 Alloy,” Nuclear Instruments 10 and Methods in Physics Research Section B 267(17): 2827-2831 (2009). Conference Proceedings S.M. McDeavitt, M.J. Naramore, J.C. Ragusa, S.T. Revankar, A.A. Solomon and J. Malone, “Evaluation of High Thermal Conductivity Oxide Nuclear Fuel Concept Containing Beryllium,” Accepted in Proceedings of 2010 LWR Fuel Performance/ TopFuel/WRFPM, Orlando, Florida, USA, September 26-29, 2010, Paper 138 (2010). N. Jahangiri, A.G. Raraz, J.E. Indacochea and S.M. McDeavitt, “UREX+ Centrifugal Contactor Corrosion in HNO3-HF Aqueous Solutions,” NACE International: CORROSION 2010, March 14-18, 2010, San Antonio, TX, Paper No. NACE-10234 (2010). S. Dasari, A.G. Raraz, J.E. Indacochea and S.M. McDeavitt, “UREX+ Process: 304L Stainless Steel Centrifugal Contactor Corrosion due to Hydrodynamic Effects,” NACE International: CORROSION 2010, March 14-18, 2010, San Antonio, TX, Paper No. NACE-10235 (2010). L.H. Ortega, M.D. Kaminiski, and S.M. McDeavitt, “Sintered Clay Waste Form for Immobilization of Cesium and Strontium Liquid Waste,” Materials Challenges in Alternative & Renewable Energy (Energy 2010), February 21-25, 2010, Cocoa Beach, FL (2010). B. Goddard, W.S. Charlton, and S.M. McDeavitt, “Real-Time Detection of UREX+3a Extraction Streams for Materials Accountancy,” 50th Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) Annual Meeting, July 12-16, 2009, Tucson, AZ (2009). Winner: J.D. Williams Student Paper Award, First Place J. Lapinskas, Y. Xu, S. Zielinski, J. A. Webster, R. P. Taleyarkhan and S.M. McDeavitt, “Tension Metastable Fluid Detection Systems for Special Nuclear Material Detection and Monitoring,” Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-17), Brussels, Belgium, July 12-16, 2009, Paper No. ICONE17-75727, (2009). International Paper
Texas A&M University
L.H. Ortega, M.D. Kaminski, and S.M. McDeavitt, “Immobilization of Liquid Nitrate Waste Containing Cesium and Strontium in Sintered Bentonite Ceramics,” Presented at Global 2009: The Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Sustainable Options & Industrial Perspectives Paris, France, September 6-11, (2009).
Jim Morel
Professor Director, Center for Large-scale Scientific Simulations Graduate Academic Advisor Ph.D., University of New Mexico morel@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Discretization techniques and associated multi-level solution techniques for neutral-particle and charged particle diffusion and transport on unstructured meshes and structured meshes with adaptive refinement • Monte Carlo methods and hybrid deterministic/Monte Carlo methods • Discretization and solution techniques for multiphysics/multiscale calculations SPONSORED RESEARCH “Capsaicin Project Support and 2D Neutron Transport,” Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2006-2010, Principal Investigator “Center for Radiative Shock Hydrodynamics,” DOE/PSAAP - subcontract to University of Michigan, 2008 -2013, Co-Principal Investigator “Center for Predictive Engineering and Computational Science (PECOS),” DOE/PSAAP - subcontract to University of Texas, 20082013, Co-Principal Investigator “Support of Stockpile Stewardship Program,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2008-2011, CoPrincipal Investigator “ARI-LA: A Framework for De-
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veloping Novel Detection Systems Focused on Interdicting Shielded HEU,” Department of Homeland Security, 2007-2012, Co-Principal Investigator
veloping Novel Detection Systems Focused on Interdicting Shielded HEU,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008-2010, Co-Principal Investigator
RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles Lei Zhu and Jim E. Morel, ”Discontinuous Least-Squares Spatial Discretization Schemes for the 1-D Slab-Geometry Sn Equations,’’ Nuclear Science and Engineering, 164, 205–220 (2010).
RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles P. Nelson and S. Sprecher, “Are Sensitive Technologies Enablers of Civil Nuclear Power? An Empirical Study,” Atoms for Peace: An International Journal,” Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 93-112 (2010).
T.M. Evans, K.T. Clarno, and J.E. Morel, ”A Transport Acceleration Scheme for Multigroup Discrete Ordinates with Upscattering,’’ Nuclear Science and Engineering, 165, 1-13 (2010).
P. Nelson, “Reassessing the Nuclear Renaissance,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists,” Vol. 66, No. 4, pp. 11-12, (2010).
Teresa S. Bailey, Jim E. Morel, and Jae Chang, “Asymptotic DiffusionLimit Accuracy of Sn Angular Differencing Schemes,’’ Nuclear Science and Engineering, 165, 149169 (2010). Jeffery D. Densmore, James S. Warsa, Robert B. Lowrie, Jim E. Morel, “Stability Analysis of Implicit Time Discretizations for the ComptonScattering Fokker-Planck Equation,’’ Journal of Computational Physics, 228, 5933-5960 (2009).
S. Rodgers, C. Betancourt, E. Kee, F. Yilmaz and P. Nelson, “Integrated Power Recovery Using Markov Modeling,” ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, (2010). Book Chapter P. Nelson, “Nuclear Disarmament: Can Risk Analysis Inform the Debate?” Causes and Consequences of Nuclear Proliferation - A Quantitative Analysis Approach, June 2010. Conference Proceedings S. Rodgers, C. Betancourt, E. Kee, F. Yilmaz and P. Nelson, “Integrated Power Recovery Using Markov Modeling,” 18th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, China, February 2010.
systems • Nuclear generated hydrogen • Nuclear workforce SPONSORED RESEARCH “Phase II of the Texas Nuclear Workforce Development Initiative: Oversight and Coordination,” Texas Workforce Commission, 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Phase II of the Texas Nuclear Workforce Development Initiative: Certification Program,” Texas Workforce Commission, 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Phase II of the Texas Nuclear Workforce Development Initiative: Nuclear Engineering Recruiting,” Texas Workforce Commission, 20092010, Co-Principal Investigator “Phase II of the Texas Nuclear Workforce Development Initiative: Nuclear Science Center,” 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Conference Proceedings K. L. Peddicord, “Coordination of University, Vocational School, High School and Industry: Education and Training for Nuclear Power,” International Conference on Human Resource Development for Introducing and Expanding Nuclear Power Programmes, International Atomic Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 17, 2010. K. L. Peddicord and Valerie Segovia, “The New Nuclear Workforce-Responding to the Challenge,” 13th Annual Texas Workforce Conference, Texas Workforce Commission, Grapevine, TX, December 3, 2009.
Paul Nelson
Professor Emeritus Associate Director of International Programs, NSSPI Ph.D., University of New Mexico pnelson@ne.tamu.edu
Kenneth L. Peddicord
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Transport theory • Computational methods • Management of nuclear materials
Professor Director, Nuclear Power Institute Ph.D., University of Illinois k-peddicord@tamu.edu
SPONSORED RESEARCH “Technical Support Balance of Plant Model Development,” STP Nuclear Operating Company, 2002-2010, Principal Investigator “ARI-LA: A Framework for De-
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Behavior of nuclear fuels • Reactor systems and designs • Fissile materials disposition, MOX fuels • Generation IV nuclear power
John W. Poston Professor Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology j-poston@tamu.edu
Texas A&M University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • External dosimetry • Internal dosimetry SPONSORED RESEARCH “Phase II of the Texas Nuclear Workforce Development Initiative: Oversight and Coordination,” Texas Workforce Commission, 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Phase II of the Texas Nuclear Workforce Development Initiative: Certification Program,” Texas Workforce Commission, 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Phase II of the Texas Nuclear Workforce Development Initiative: Nuclear Engineering Recruiting,” Texas Workforce Commission, 20092010, Co-Principal Investigator “Phase II of the Texas Nuclear Workforce Development Initiative: Nuclear Science Center,” 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Voluntary Security Enhancements for the Radioactive Source at TAMU,” Sandia National Laboratories, 2009-2013, Co-Principal Investigator “Low Level Radioactive Waste Facility Licensing Review,” Texas Commission of Environmental Quality, 2008-2009, Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles C.H. Kim, S. K. Cho, J. Jeong, W. E. Bolch, W. D. Reece, and J.W. Poston, Sr., “Development of New Two-Dosimeter Algorithm for Effective Dose in ICRP Publication 103,” accepted for publication in Health Physics (2010). J. W. Poston, Sr. and J. R. Ford, “How Do We Combine Science and Regulations for Decision Making Following a Terrorist Incident Involving Radioactive Materials?,” Health Physics 97(5), 537-541, (2009). Book Chapter K. F. Eckerman, J. W. Poston, Sr. and W. E. Bolch, “The ORNL Stylized Mathematical Models,” chapter in Handbook of Anatomical Models for Radiation Dosimetry, X. George Xu and Keith F. Eckerman, Eds., CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, 2009.
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Jean Ragusa
Associate Professor Associate Director, Institute for Scientific Computation Ph.D., Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble ragusa@ne.tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Development of advanced numerical techniques for the simulation of radiation transport and multiphysics phenomena • Reactor physics research to develop new fuel assembly designs for Light Water Reactors SPONSORED RESEARCH “Adaptive Solution of the Neutron Transport Equation for Nuclear Reactor and Shielding Applications,” Department of Energy, 2007- 2011, Principal Investigator “3-D Deep Penetration Neutron Imaging Of Thick Absorbing And Diusive Objects Using Transport Theory,” Department of Energy NEER, 2007-2011, Principal Investigator “Analysis Of Advanced Fuel Assemblies And Core Designs For The Current And Next Generations Of LWRS,” Department of Energy - NERI, 2007-2011, Principal Investigator “Neutronic / Thermal-Hydraulic Coupling Techniques For Sodium Cooled Fast Reactor Simulations,” Department of Energy - NERI, 20072010, Principal Investigator
2007-2012, Co-Principal Investigator
22–48 (2009).
“Development of Joint US-Russia Educational Program on Advanced Energy Technology,” Department of Education, 2007-2009, Co-Principal Investigator
Yaqi Wang, Wolfgang Bangerth, Jean C. Ragusa, “Three-dimensional h-Adaptivity for the Multi- group Neutron Diffusion Equations,” Progress in Nuclear Energy, 51, pp. 543–555 (2009).
“High Fidelity 3-D Core Model for Light Water Reactor Nuclear Reactors,” Idaho National Laboratory, 2008-2009, Principal Investigator “Development of SCALE-based Educational Modules to Innovate Reactor Physics and Criticality Safety Curricula,” Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2008-2009, CoPrincipal Investigator “High-Fidelity Space-Time Adaptive Multiphysics Simulations in Nuclear Engineering,” Department of Energy - Nuclear Energy University Programs, 2009-2012, Co-Principal Investigator “High Fidelity Core Models for Multiphysics Reactor Simulations,” Idaho National Laboratory, 20102011, Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles Jean Ragusa, Yaqi Wang, “A TwoMesh Adaptive Mesh Refinement Technique for SN Neutral-Particle Transport Using a Higher-Order DGFEM,” Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics, 233(12), pp. 3178-3188 (2010). Jean Ragusa, Yaqi Wang, “Adaptive Mesh Refinement Techniques for Diffusion-Synthetic-Accelerated Discrete-Ordinates Neutral Particle transport,” Il Nuovo Cimento, 33 (1), pp. 215-222 (2010). Bruno Turcksin, Jean C. Ragusa, Wolfgang Bangerth “Goal-Oriented h-adaptivity for the Multigroup SPN Equations,” Nucl. Sci. and Eng., 165, pp. 305-319 (2010).
“Transport in Stochastic Media and Nonlinear Adjoint-Based Sensitivity for Multiphysics Simulations,” Idaho National Laboratory, 2010, Principal Investigator
Yaqi Wang, Jean Ragusa, “Diffusion Synthetic Acceleration for HighOrder Discontinuous Finite Element SN Transport Schemes and Application to Locally Refined Unstructured Meshes,” Nucl. Sci. and Eng., Issue, 165, pp. 145-166, (2010).
“A Framework for Developing Novel Detection Systems Focused on Interdicting Shielded HEU,” National Science Foundation/DHS/DNSO,
Yaqi Wang, Jean C. Ragusa, “Application of hp Adaptivity to the Multigroup Diffusion Equations,” Nucl. Sci. and Eng., 161 (1), pp.
Vijay Mahadevan, Jean C. Ragusa “Consistent and Accurate Schemes for Coupled Neutronics ThermalHydraulics Reactor Analysis,” Nucl. Eng. and Des., 239, pp. 566–579, (2009). Timothy Rogers, Jean C. Ragusa, Stephen Schultz, Robert St-Clair “Optimization of PWR Fuel Assembly Radial Enrichment and Burnable Poison Location based on Simulated Annealing,” Nucl. Eng. and Des., 239, pp. 1019–1029, (2009). Yaqi Wang, Jean C. Ragusa, “A High-order Discontinuous Galerkin Method for the SN Transport Equations on 2D Unstructured Triangular Meshes,” Annals of Nuclear Energy, 36, pp. 931–939, (2009). Yaqi Wang, Jean C. Ragusa, “On the Convergence of DGFEM Applied to the Discrete Ordinates Transport Equation for Structured and Unstructured Triangular Meshes,” Nucl. Sci. and Eng., 163(1), 56-72, (2009). Sunil S. Chirayath, Richard Metcalf, Gordon Hollenbeck, Jean Ragusa, Paul Nelson, “Neutronic and Nonproliferation Characteristics of (PuO2-U2) and (Pu2-Th2) as Fast Reactor Fuels,” Nucl. Eng. and Des., 239, pp. 1916-1924 (2009). Conference Proceedings Sunil Chirayath, Jean Ragusa, Paul Nelson, “Thorium blended and Regular MOX Burn-up Studies for Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle Safeguards,” Proceedings of the INMM 50th Annual Meeting, July 12-16, 2009, Tucson, AZ.
Texas A&M University
Dan Reece
Professor Director, Nuclear Science Center Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology w-reece@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Radiation transport • Assessment of effective dose equivalent • Medical application of radioisotopes • Dosimetry • Uses for research reactors
cal Models for Radiation Dosimetry, Chapter 18: “External Radiation Exposures in Nuclear Power Plants,” WD Reece, CH Kim, XG Xu. “Series in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering” (2010).
Principal Investigator
(2010).
“Radiation Response and Stability of Nanostructured Materials (T91 and SiC),” National Science Foundation, 2009-2014, Principal Investigator
C. H. Kim, S. K. Cho, J. Jeong, Wesley E. Bolch, Warren D. Reece, John W. Poston, Sr., “Development of New Two-dosimeter Algorithm for Effective Dose in ICRP Publication 103,” Health Physics Journal, accepted, in press, (2010).
“Irradiation Testing and Molecular Modeling of Irradiation-Assisted Diffusion and Microstructured Evolution,” Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC-Idaho National Laboratory, 2009-2012, Principal Investigator
L. Shao and L.H. Peng, “A Pearson VII Distribution Function for Fast Calculation of Dechanneling and Angular Dispersion of Beams,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods. Phys. Res. B, 267, 3597 (2009).
Conference Proceedings Reece, W.D., “LVNAA at the Texas A&M Nuclear Science Center,” Invited paper at the IAEA 1st Research Co-ordination Meeting, Vienna, Austria, January 19-23, 2009.
“Development of Radiation Tolerant Alloys for Generation IV Reactors,” U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2008-2011, Principal Investigator “Development of Nanostructured Superior-Strength Alloy by Ion/Electron Irradiation of Metallic Glasses,” Siemens Power Generation, 20072008, Principal Investigator
SPONSORED RESEARCH “Phase II of the Texas Nuclear Workforce Development Initiative: Nuclear Science Center,” Texas Workforce Commission, 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Y-12 Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI),” U.S. Department of Energy, 2009-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Safety Curriculum Development to Facilitate Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century,” U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2007-2008, Co-Principal Investigator “TEES Technical Support for LLNL Sister Laboratory Program,” Lawrence Livermore National Security, 2007-2011, Co-Principal Investigator “Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure and Education,” U.S. Department of Energy-Idaho Operations Office, 2002-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Voluntary Security Enhancements for the Radioactive Source at TAMU,” Sandia National Laboratories, 2009-2013, Co-Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles George Xi Xu, and Keith F Eckerman, editors. Handbook of Anatomi-
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“Fuel Performance Experiments and Modeling: Fission Gas Bubble Nucleation and Growth in Alloy Nuclear Fuels,” Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Laboratory, 2009-2012, Co-Principal Investigator
Lin Shao
Assistant Professor Ph.D., University of Houston lshao@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Radiation materials science and materials degradation under extreme conditions • Nuclear fuel and reactor structural component development • Ion beam characterization and modification of materials • Multiscale modeling including ab initio calculation, molecular dynamics simulation and continuum method • Advanced sensor, detector and microelectronics SPONSORED RESEARCH “Band-gap Engineering for Enhanced Photoemission of selfassembled Au and Ag nanoparticles embedded in monocrystalline semiconductors,” The Robert A. Welch Foundation, 2010-2012, Principal Investigator “Radiation Response and Defect Dynamics in Strained Si,” National Science Foundation, 2009-2012,
“Optoelectronic Properties of SelfAssembled Metal Nanoparticles Embedded in Monocrystalline Si,” The Robert A. Welch Foundation, 2007-2010, Principal Investigator “Safety Curriculum Development to Facilitate Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century,” U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2007-2008, Co-Principal Investigator
Assel Aitkaliyeva, M.C. McCarthy, M. Martin, E.G. Fu, D. Wijesundera, X. Wang, W-K Chu, H-K Jeong, and L. Shao, “Defect Formation and Annealing Kinetics in Ion Irradiated Carbon Nanotube Buckpapers,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods. Phys. Res. B, 267, 3443 (2009). Nan Li, M. Martin, O. Anderoglu, A. Misra, L. Shao, H. Wang, and X. Zhang, “He Ion Irradiation Damage in Al/Nb Multilayers,” J. Appl. Phys. 105, 123522 (2009). Jesse Carter, E.G. Fu, M. Martin, G.Q. Xie, X. Zhang, Y.Q. Wang, D. Wijesundera, X.M. Wang, Wei-Kan Chu, Sean McDeavitt, and L. Shao, “Ion Irradiation Induced Nanocrystal Formation in Amorphous Zr55CuA Ni5 Alloy,” Nucl. Instrum. 30 l10 Methods. Phys. Res. B 267, 2827 (2009). Jesse Carter, E.G. Fu, M. Martin, G.O. Xie, X. Zhang, Y.Q. Wang, D. Wijesundera, X.M. Wang, Wei-Kan Chu, and L. Shao, “Effects of Cu Ion Irradiation in Cu50Zr45Ti5 Metallic Glass”, Scripta Materialia 61, 265 (2009).
RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles L. Shao, “Beam dispersion of ions penetrating through an amorphous compound binary layer,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods. Phys. Res. B, 268, 1399 (2010). W. Hua, S-D Yao, N.D. Theodore, M. Martin, A. Aitkaliyeva, and L Shao, “Ion Irradiation induced bubble relaxation in SiC,” Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids, 165, 388 (2010). W. Hua, S-D Yao, N.D. Theodore, X.M. Wang, W-K. Chu, M. Martin and L. Shao, “Ion Irradiation Induced Athermal Annealing of Helium Bubbles in SiC,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods. Phys. Res. B, 268, 2325
Pavel V. Tsetkov
Assistant Professor Ph.D., Texas A&M University tsvetkov@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • High-fidelity integrated systematics for nuclear engineering applications • Symbiotic nuclear energy approaches including zero-waste, co-generation • Direct nuclear energy conversion systems, all of which are assumed
Texas A&M University
to be potentially fueled with higher actinides. SPONSORED RESEARCH “Deep-Burn” Gas-Reactor Technology Research and Development: Development of Optimization and Shuffling Methodology for the Prismatic High Temperature Reactor Deep Burn Reactor, (Battelle Energy Alliance/Idaho National Laboratory) Department of Energy, 2009-2010, Principal Investigator “Advanced Elastic/Inelastic Nuclear Data Development Project,” Department of Energy University Program lead by the University of Michigan, 2009-2012, Principal Investigator “Basic Physics Data: Improved Fission Neutron Data Base For Active Interrogation of Actinides,” Department of Energy University Program/ (Idaho National Laboratory), 20092012, Principal Investigator. “Design of a New ORNL HFIR Target,” Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2008-2009, Principal Investigator. “Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Network for Online 3D Temperature and Neutron Fluence Mapping in a Very High Temperature Reactor Environment,” Department of Energy Nuclear Energy University Programs 2009-2012, Co-Principal Investigator “Fuel Performance Experiments and Modeling: Fission Gas Bubble Nucleation and Growth in Alloy Nuclear Fuels,” Battelle Energy Alliance/Idaho National Laboratory, 2009-2012, Co-Principal Investigator “Basic Research on High Temperature Gas Reactor Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Physics,” Oregon State University, 2008-2013, Co-Principal Investigator “Effects of Environmental Changes due to Climate Fluctuations on Long-Term Nuclear Power Plant Operations and New Plant Planning,” Entergy Nuclear, 2009-2012, Co-Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles Nuclear Power, P. V. Tsvetkov (book editor), Sciyo (2010). P. V. Tsvetkov, T. L. Guy, “Advanced Magnetic-Nuclear Power Systems
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for Reliability Demanding Applications Including Deep Space Missions,” Chapter in Nuclear Power, P. V. Tsvetkov (book editor), Sciyo (2010). P. V. Tsvetkov, T. G. Lewis III, A. B. Alajo, D. E. Ames II, “Used Fuel” Vectors and Waste Minimization Strategies for VHTRs Operating without Refueling,” Nucl. Eng. Des., 240 (2010), pp. 2458-2465, Elsevier (2010). P. V. Tsvetkov, T. G. Lewis III, A. B. Alajo, D. E. Ames II, “VHTR-Based Systems for Autonomous Co-Generation Applications,” Nucl. Eng. Des., 240 (2010), pp. 2451-2457, Elsevier (2010). A. B. Alajo, P. V. Tsvetkov, “Impact of PWR Spent Fuel Variations on Back-End Features of Advanced Fuel Cycles with TRU-fueled VHTRs,” Annals of Nuclear Energy, Elsevier (2010). D. E. Ames, II, P. V. Tsvetkov, “High Fidelity System Modeling of Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems Approaching a Zero-Nuclear-Waste Limit,” Progr. In Nucl. Energy, Elsevier (2010). P. V. Tsvetkov, A. B. Alajo, D. E. Ames II, “Autonomous Control Strategies for VHTR-Based Systems for Hydrogen Production,” J. Eng. for Gas Turbines and Power, September 2009, 131, 052906, pp. 1-6, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2009). P. V. Tsvetkov, T. G. Lewis III, A. B. Alajo, “TRU-Fueled VHTRs for Applications Requiring an Extended Operation with Minimized Control and No Refueling,” J. Eng. for Gas Turbines and Power, September 2009, 131, 052907, pp. 1-4, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2009). T. G. Lewis III, P. V. Tsvetkov, “Physics Features of TRUFueled VHTRs,” Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations, 2009, ID 214285, pp. 1-7, doi:10.1155/2009/214285, Hindawi (2009). Conference Proceedings R. P. Kelly, M. L. Pritchard, P. V. Tsvetkov, “Pebble-Bed System Features and Fuel Utilization,” Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc., 102, pp. 579-580,
USA (2010). P. V. Tsvetkov, T. G. Lewis III, S. K. Lakshmipathy, A. M. Ougouag, F. Venneri, “3D Tracking in Reloading Optimization for Deep Burn HTR Hexagonal Block Systems,” Proc. 5th Intern. Conf. on HTR Technology (HTR 2010), October 18–20, 2010, Prague, Czech Republic, paper HTR2010-110, accepted, ASME (2010). A. B. Alajo, P. V. Tsvetkov, “Utilization of Transuranics as Fuel Component in VHTR Systems: The Back-End Considerations,” Proc. ANS Topical Meeting/Intern. Conf. on Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Systems Global 2009, Paris, France, September 6-11, 2009, Paper 9471, pp 1886-1893 (2009). P. V. Tsvetkov, T. L. Guy, “Architectures Based on Direct Fission Fragment Energy Conversion for Interstellar Exploration,” Proc. Nucl. and Emerging Techn. for Space 2009, ANS Annual Meeting Embedded Topical, Atlanta, GA, June 1419, 2009, Paper 203610, pp. 320-329 (2009). D. E. Ames II, P. V. Tsvetkov, “Nuclear Energy System Providing an Environmentally Benign, Sustainable, and Secure Energy Source,” Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc., 101, pp. 177 - 178, USA (2009). P. V. Tsvetkov, T. G. Lewis III, A. M. Ougouag, F. Venneri, “Reference Basic Cases and Anticipated Performance of DB-VHTRs in a Single-Path OTTO Mode,” Trans. Amer. Nucl. Soc., 101, pp. 248 - 250, USA (2009).
Karen Vierow
Associate Professor Ph.D., University of Tokyo vierow@ne.tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Thermal hydraulic
• Multiphase flow, particularly condensation heat transfer • Reactor safety • Severe accident analysis • Reactor design SPONSORED RESEARCH “Analysis of Advanced Fuel Assemblies and Core Designs for the Current and Next Generation of LWRs,” U.S. Department of Energy – Nuclear Engineering Research Initiative Program (NERI), 2007-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Effects of Environmental Changes Due to Climate Fluctuations on Long-term Nuclear Power Plant Operations and New Plant Planning,” Entergy, 2008-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Collaborative Research: ARI-MA: Tensioned Fluid Metastable State Special Nuclear Material Detector,” National Science Foundation (NSF)/ Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2008-2009, Principal Investigator “Basic Research on High Temperature Gas Reactor Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Physics,” Oregon State University/Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2008-2013, Co-Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles I. Choutapalli, K. Vierow, “Wall Pressure Measurements of Flooding in Vertical Countercurrent Annular Air-Water Flow,” Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 240, pp.33213230, (accepted June 2010). I. Choutapalli, K. Vierow, “Effect of Air Inlet Geometry on Flooding in a Large Diameter Vertical Tube,” Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 240, pp.3667-3681, (accepted July 2010). Y. Liao, S. Guentay, K. Vierow, “Local Nonsimilarity Method for the Two-Phase Boundary Layer in Mixed Convection Laminar Film Condensation,” Heat and Mass Transfer,” Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 447455, (2010). Deendarlianto, A. Ousaka, Indarto, A. Kariyasaki, D. Lucas, K. Vierow, C. Vallee, K. Hogan, “The Effects of Surface Tension on Flooding in Counter-current Two-phase Flow in an Inclined Tube,” Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, Vol. 34,
Texas A&M University
Issue 7, pp. 813-826, (2010). K. Hogan, Y. Liao, B. Beeny, K. Vierow, R. Cole, Jr., L. Humphries, R. Gauntt, “Implementation of a Generalized Diffusion Layer Model for Condensation into MELCOR,” Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 240, pp. 3202-3208, (accepted September 2009). Conference Proceedings O. Draznin, S. N. Ritchey, K. Vierow, “Experimental Study of Water Subcooling Effect on SteamWater Flooding in a Large-Diameter Vertical Tube,” Proc. of International Congress on Advanced Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP’02), San Diego, CA, Feb. 2010. K. Metzroth, T. Aldemir, K. Hogan, and K. Vierow, “Sensitivity Analysis Using the Method of Taguchi Orthogonal Arrays,” Transactions of 2009 ANS Winter Meeting Washington, D.C., Nov. 2009. S. N. Williams, M. Solom, O. Draznin, I. Choutapalli, K. Vierow, “Flooding Experiments with Steam and Water in a Large Diameter Vertical Tube,” 13th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-13), Japan, Oct. 2009. S. N. Williams, M. Solom, O. Draznin, I. Choutapalli, and K. Vierow, “Flooding Experiments with Steam and Water in a Large Diameter Vertical Tube,” Proc. of 13th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-13) Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, paper N13P1094, Oct. 2009.
Visiting Professors
Sunil Chirayath
Visiting Assistant Professor TEES Research Scientist Ph.D., University of Madras, India sunil@ne.tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Fast Breeder Fuel Cycle • Nuclear Material Safeguards • Proliferation Resistance Assessments • Monte Carlo Radiation Transport • Radiation Shielding • Reactor Core Physics SPONSORED RESEARCH “A Framework for Developing Novel Detection Systems Focused on Interdicting Shielded HEU,” Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Academic Research Initiative Grants, 2007-2012, Co-Principal Investigator “Creation of a Graduate-level Academic Program in Nuclear Materials Management at an Indian Institution of Higher Education,” Sandia National Laboratories, 2010-2012, Co-Principal Investigator
(PuO2-UO2) and (PuO2-ThO2) as fast reactor fuels,” Nuclear Engineering and Design 239, 1916-1924 (2009).
• Radiological consequence management • Environmental health physics
L. Thilagam, V. Jagannathan, S.S. Chirayath and K.V. Subbaiah, “VVER-1000 MOX Core Computational Benchmark analysis using indigenous codes EXCEL, TRIHEXFA and HEXPIN,” Annals of Nuclear Energy 36, 1502-1515, (2009).
SPONSORED RESEARCH “ARI-LA: A Framework for Developing Novel Detection Systems Focused on Interdicting Shielded HEU,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008-2010, Co-Principal Investigator
L. Thilagam, S.S. Chirayath, V. Jagannathan, K.V. Subbaiah, “A VVER-1000 LEU and MOX Assembly Computational Benchmark Analysis using the Lattice Burn-up code EXCEL,” Annals of Nuclear Energy 36, 505-519, (2009).
“GTRI Nuclear Security Education Initiative Design,” Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 2010, Co-Principal Investigator
Conference Proceedings S.S. Chirayath, W. Charlton, A. Stafford, C. Myers, B. Goddard, J. Alfred, M. Carroll, M. Sternat, and E. Rauch, “Risk Informed Safeguards Integration Studies for a Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle,” Proceedings of the 51st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials and Management Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. SS. Chirayath, J. Ragusa, and P. Nelson, “Thorium blended and regular MOX burn-up studies for fast reactor fuel cycle safeguards,” Proceedings of 50th annual meeting of INMM, Tucson, AZ, July 12-16, 2009. A. Bingham, B. Bradley, Y. Zhang, J. Ragusa, S.S. Chirayath, and K. Vierow, “Analysis of Advanced Fuel Assemblies for the LWRs,” Proceedings of the ANS Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA, June 14-18, 2009.
“Safeguards Approaches for Fast Breeder Reactors and Associated Fuel Facilities,” U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, 2007-2010, CoPrincipal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles G.M. Gaukler, C. Li, R. Cannaday, S.S. Chirayath, Y. Ding, “Detecting Nuclear Materials Smuggling: using Radiography to improve Container Inspection Policies,” Annals of Operation Research online (March 2010). S.S. Chirayath, G. Hollenbeck, J. Ragusa, and P. Nelson, “Neutronic and nonproliferation characteristics of
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Craig Marianno
Visiting Assistant Professor Ph.D., Oregon State University marianno@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Nuclear counter terrorism • Nuclear instrumentation development • Exercise development
RECENT PUBLICATIONS Conference Proceedings C.M. Marianno, D.R. Boyle, W.S. Charlton, and G.M. Gaukler, “A Guide for Detector Development and Deployment,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. C. Ryan, C. Marianno, W. Charlton, A. Solodov, and J. Livesay, “Determining the Effects of Construction Materials on Background Readings for Second Line of Defense Program Portal Monitoring Systems,” Proceedings of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. C.M. Marianno, “Conveying Uncertainty in Map Products for Radiological Events,” 54th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, July 2009. J. Essex , Marianno C., Ainsworth P., Davison B., Istle J., and Hassen J., “A Solution for Real-Time Data Acquisition, Analysis, and Dissemination in Support of Nuclear Emergency Response,” 42nd Annual Mid-year Meeting of the Health Physics Society, January, 2009. C.M. Marianno, “Locating Illicit Radioactive Material: Instrumentation Design Considerations,” 42nd Annual Mid-year Meeting of the Health Physics Society, January, 2009.
Texas A&M University
tive Transfer With Adaptive Material Coupling,” Journal of Computational Physics, 228, 16, 5669-5686, (2009).
Lecturers
G. Thoreson, R.G. McClarren, and J.H. Chang, “High Resolution Time Integration for Sn Radiation Transport,” Annals of Nuclear Energy, 36, 263-267, (2009), Invited.
Ryan McClarren
Visiting Assistant Professor Ph.D., University of Michigan rgm@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Uncertainty quantification for multiphysics systems • Computational radiation transport • Radiating shock physics • Verification and validation of computer models SPONSORED RESEARCH “Center for Radiative Shock Hydrodynamics,” Department of Energy, 2008-2012 RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles R.G. McClarren, R.P. Drake, J.E. Morel, and J.P. Holloway, “Theory of Radiative Shocks in the Mixed, Optically Thick-Thin Case,” Physics of Plasmas, 17, 093301, (2010). R.G. McClarren and J.G. Wohlbier, “Analytic Solutions for Ion-ElectronRadiation Coupling With Radiation and Electron Diffusion,” Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 112, 119-130, (2010). R.G. McClarren and R.P. Drake, “Anti-diffusive radiation flow in the cooling layer of a radiating shock”, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 111 20952105, (2010). R.G. McClarren and C.D. Hauck, “Robust and Accurate Filtered Spherical Harmonics Expansions for Radiative Transfer,” Journal of Computational Physics, 229, 16, 5597-5614, (2010). R.G. McClarren and C.D. Hauck, “Simulating Radiative Transfer with Filtered Spherical Harmonics,” Physics Letters A, 374, 22, 2290-2296, (2010). R.G. McClarren and T.J. Urbatsch, “A Modified Implicit Monte Carlo Method for Time-Dependent Radia-
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Conference Proceedings R.G. McClarren and C.D. Hauck, “Positive Pn Closures,” Transactions of the American Nuclear Society. Winter 2009.
Cable Kurwitz Leslie Braby
Senior Lecturer Research Engineer Ph.D., Oregon State University labraby@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Radiation dosimetry • Microdosimetry • Biological effects of radiation • Microbeam Lab • Food irradiation SPONSORED RESEARCH “Development of Replacement Tissue Equivalent Proportional Detectors,” Jacobs ESC (NASA), 2008-2010, Principal Investigator “Small Active Dosimetry Systems for Lunar EVA,” National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NASA), 2007-2010, Co-Principal Investigator “Microbeam Irradiations of C. ellegans,” Loma Linda Medical Center (NASA), 2008-2010, Co-Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles Braby, L.A., and Perez-Nunez, D., “Effect of Wall Thickness on Measurement of Dose for High Energy Neutrons,” Health Physics 98, 37-41, (2010). Braby, L.A., and Perez-Nunez, D., “Design, Construction, and Implementation of Spherical Tissue-Equivalent Proportional Counter,” Nuclear Technology 168, 21-28, (2009).
Lecturer Ph.D., Texas A&M University kurwitz@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Spacecraft systems • Reduced gravity thermal management • Modeling of high dimensional data • Data classification • Model validation SPONSORED RESEARCH “FY09 Earmark Entitled ‘Space Engineering Institute,” NASA Shared Services Center, 2009-2011, Co-Principal Investigator “A Highly Stabic Two Phase Thermal Management System - Phase II,” Creare, 2010-2011, Co-Principal Investigator RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles R. Oinuma, F. Best, and R. Kurwitz, “Development and Application of Vortex Liquid / Gas Phase Separator for Reduced Gravity Environment,” JASMA – Japan Society of Microgravity Application, Vol 26, No. 3, 2009, pp 226. Conference Proceedings C. Schwendeman, R. Hay, and C. Kurwitz, “Optimization of Various Thermal Management Techniques for High Thermal Loads,” SSC10VII-4 2010 Small Satellite Conference, Logan, UT, August 9-12, 2010. M. Schuller, C. Kurwitz, F. Little, R. Oinuma, B. Larsen, J. Goldman, F. Reinis, “Custom Unit Pump Development for the Extravehicular Activity Portable Life Support System,” Proc. 40th International Conference on Environmental Systems, AIAA, Barcelona, Spain, July 11-15, 2010. L. Gaul, C. Kurwitz, and F. Best, “Equilibrium Interface Position During Operation of a Fixed Cylinder Vortex Separator,” Proceedings of
Texas A&M University
the Space, Propulsion & Energy Sciences International Forum, Applied Physics Laboratory – JHU, February 23-26, 2010. A. Creary, M. King, M. Langston, C. Kurwitz, P. Nelson, and F. Yilmaz, “Time Domain Analysis of the Temperatures in an Electrical Auxiliary Building Room,” ICONE17-75720, Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering ICONE17, Brussels, Belgium, 2009.
inney, C. Pickett, and P. Peerani, “International Workshop on Gamma Spectrometry Analysis Codes for U and Pu Isotopics: Workshop Results and Next Steps,” ESARDA BULLETIN, No. 43, pp. 65-68, (December 2009). N.M. Abdul-Jabbar, A.A. Solodov, J.P. Hayward, K.P. Ziock, and A.C. Raffo-Caiado, “Measurements with Pinhole and Coded Aperture Gamma-Ray Imaging Systems,” ORNL/ TM-2009/76, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2009). Conference Proceedings A.A. Solodov, W.S. Charlton, S.F. Saavedra, and L. Khodalev, “The Use of Self-induced XRF to Quantify the Pu Content in MOX Spent Nuclear Fuel,” presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010.
Natela Ostrovskaya Senior Lecturer Ph.D., Texas A&M University natela@ne.tamu.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Mathematical and computer modeling of radiation response of human tissues • Predicting changes occurring in tissues following radiation insult
Alexander Solodov
Lecturer Ph.D., Texas A&M University solodovaa@ornl.gov RESEARCH INTERESTS • Nondestructive assay of nuclear materials • Health Physics instrumentation • Nuclear nonproliferation and international security RECENT PUBLICATIONS Journal Articles B.R. McGinnis, A.A. Solodov, J.L. Shipwash, A.V. Zhernosek, T. McK-
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S.M. Revis, A.A. Solodov, J. Livesay, and J.M. Crye, “Determination and Mitigation of Weather Effects on Portal Monitor Gamma Background Levels,” presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. C. Ryan, G. Marianno, W.S. Charlton, A.A. Solodov, and J. Livesay, “Determining the Effects of Construction Materials on Background Readings for Second Line of Defense Program Portal Monitoring Systems”, presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. S.F. Saavedra, W.S. Charlton, A.A. Solodov, and M. Ehinger, “Using NDA Techniques to Improve Safeguards Metrics on Burnup Quantification and Plutonium Content in LWR SNF,” presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010. J. Chapman, M. Rasweswe, C. Behan, B. Rollen, S. Smith, A. Lousteau, and A. A. Solodov, “Pelindaba Nondestructive Assay Program for the Measurement and Declaration of Material to the International Atomic Energy Agency,” presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010.
J. White, W.S. Charlton, and A.A. Solodov, “Applications of X-Ray Fluorescence Fission Product Correlations for Nuclear Forensics,” presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, MD, July 11-15, 2010.
Galina V. Tsvetkova
Lecturer Ph.D., Texas A&M University tsvetkovag@tamu.edu RESEARCH INTERESTS • Reactor physics, small nuclear power and co-generation applications • Nuclear data management systems • Isotope separation • Molecular dynamics and separations phenomena
Emeritus Faculty Ron Hart
Professor Emeritus Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Milton E. McLain
Professor Emeritus Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology
Texas A&M University
Advisory Council The Nuclear Engineering Advisory Council (NEAC) is fundamental to forging the partnership between the academic community and the practicing profession, and in supporting the Department to provide the highest quality nuclear engineering education. The Council is critical in helping the Department aspire to become the pre-eminent educational program for this discipline in the world.
MISSION
The mission is to assist and advise the Department in meeting the following objectives: • Advise the Department in the development and delivery of cutting edge, relevant curriculum. • Advise and consult on issues of mutual concern related to the educational, research, and professional service program. • Review and evaluate Departmental strategic goals and plans and, as mutually agreed, specific programs and new initiatives. • Assist in establishing and maintaining recognition of the Department. • Support the Department in fostering mutually beneficial relationships with the nuclear industry, the engineering and scientific communities, state and federal governments, and present and former students. • Assist in resource development in support of the needs and programs of the Department.
MEMBERSHIP
The membership on the Council is by invitation of the Department Head of Nuclear Engineering. Members are selected based on their leadership, accomplishments, or exceptional ability to contribute to one or more of the Council’s objectives. Prospective members may be nominated by any member of the Council, by members of the Department’s faculty or staff, or by the leadership of the College of Engineering. Council membership is personal, not corporate, i.e., council members may not send “representatives” to Council functions. Members serve without remuneration or reimbursement.
TERM OF SERVICE
The Council will consist of 15 to 25 members who serve three-year terms. Active members serve three-year terms and may be reappointed for additional terms. Staggered terms will be utilized to provide continuity. Upon completion of one or more active terms, members may be honored with “Emeritus” status, whereby they will receive most NEAC communications but will not participate in regular meetings of the Council.
2009-2010 Members Ms. Carol Berrigan Senior Director Industry Infrastructure Nuclear Energy Institute Washington, DC
Dr. David Hill Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology Idaho National Laboratory Idaho Falls, ID
Mr. William “Russ” Brian Vice President Operations Support Entergy Nuclear Jackson, MS
Mr. Timothy Hurst President Hurst Technologies Corporation Angleton, TX
Mr. Rafael Flores Senior VP and Chief Nuclear Officer Luminant Power Glen Rose, TX Mr. Thomas Geer, Chair Vice President of Nuclear Engineering Westinghouse Electric Company Mr. John Gutteridge Program Officer U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC
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Dr. Jeff Kleck Co-Founder and CEO Attania, Inc. San Jose, CA Mr. Craig Lambert Director of Engineering Design Exelon Generation Company Warrenville, IL Dr. Regis Matzie Senior V.P. and Chief Technology Officer Westinghouse Windsor, CT
Dr. David McCallen Deputy Principal Associate Director National Security Global Security Directorate Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Ms. Evelyn Mullen Division Leader International and Applied Technology Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM Dr. James Peery Director of Computation Computers Information and Mathematics Sandia National Laboratory Albuquerque, NM Mr. Tim Powell Vice President of Engineering South Texas Project Nuclear Engineering Wadsworth, TX
Ms. Sandra Sloan Regulatory Affairs Manager New Plants Areva NP, Inc. Lynchburg, VA Dr. Russell Stachowski Chief Consulting Engineer Global Nuclear Fuel Wilmington, NC Mr. Ron Stinson, Emeritus President and CEO Atlas Consulting Group Carlsbad, CA Dr. John Ullo Senior Advisor Schlumberger Research Cambridge, MA Mr. Richard Wolters Retired, General Electric San Jose, CA
Texas A&M University
Former Student Profile - Ray A. Rothrock ‘77 His Journey with Nuclear Energy Comes Full Circle
O
ften times our life’s journey comes “full circle” by returning back to where we started. When Ray Rothrock ’77 earned his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering, he set his sights on a career in the nuclear energy industry, and now years later, after several turns along the way, the nuclear energy industry is again in his sights. Rothrock began his career as a nuclear safety analysis engineer. In this position, he earned a greater appreciation for the skill set he had acquired as an undergraduate. He realized the nuclear engineering program’s broad-based curriculum had not only prepared him well for the nuclear industry, but the exposure to other disciplines gave him an edge over his counterparts. “Because of the breadth and depth of the nuclear engineering program at A&M, I found that I was capable of being instantly productive at my first job out of college,” said Rothrock. He continued working in the nuclear industry and earned his master’s degree in nuclear engineering from M.I.T., but his journey took a turn when Exxon Minerals left the uranium business. Inspired by a National Geographic cover story, Rothrock decided to sell everything and make the move to the Silicon Valley in California. After two failed software startups, he answered an ad for an applications engineer for Sun Microsystems. As Rothrock puts it, Sun Microsystems was a “rocketship,” a newly started and fast growing company. Here, Rothrock learned about venture capital – an industry that provides financial capital and sponsorship to early-stage, high-potential growth startup companies. This knowledge, along with prodding from his then boss and now CEO of Yahoo, Carol Bartz; Wayne Stark of the Memorial Student Center; and his soon to be wife, Meredith, Rothrock added MBA to his list of degrees. He obtained his MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School in 1988. “I went to Harvard with venture capital in mind,” Rothrock said. “Knowing that I would pursue this upon completion of the program.” A recruiter for Venrock Associates contacted Rothrock while he was contemplating his next move. He joined Venrock in New York City and led the company into the Internet age in the early 90’s; he has enjoyed a stellar career investment record: 94% internal rate of return. His current investments are mostly in the fields of computer network security and energy.
Are You a Former “Aggie Nuke”?
“It is not about scientists or engineers solving the problem. Everyone - scientists, engineers and especially non-technical people - must care and get involved in order to come up with solutions and make it happen.” Not only is Rothrock investing in energy, but he also has ideas about what our country should be doing to address current global concerns. He believes nuclear energy is part of the solution. His presentation “American Energy Transition: From Carbon-based to Sustainable Sources,” is designed to raise awareness, start conversations and inspire action. Rothrock has made the presentation at various events and to multiple organizations including alumni clubs, Muster 2010, IEEE of Santa Clara County, Middlebury College, venture capital events and even a staff member at the White House - which lead to an audience with Vice President Joseph Biden. “It is not only about scientists and engineers solving the problem,” Rothrock said. “Everyone - scientists, engineers and especially non-technical people - must care and get involved in order to come up with solutions and make it happen. There are 150 other people for every engineer in America. That’s leverage.”
Ray A. Rothrock ‘77
has made numerous contributions to Texas A&M University. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the Texas A&M Foundation, chairing the investment committee and as co-chair of the Arts & Science Theme Group for the university’s “Vision 2020.” Additionally, he has made significant contributions to A&M’s student affairs, College of Liberal Arts and 12th Man Foundation. Rothrock’s support has contributed to multiple endowed scholarships to the Department of Nuclear Engineering.
We would like to hear what your journey has been since graduation, both personally and professionally. News items will be reported in upcoming editions of the department’s newsletter. Contact us at nuclear@tamu.edu.
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Give a Gift Scholarships drive the spirit and guide the minds of generations of Aggies, so they can affect the world in productive and inventive ways. When you fund a scholarship, you’re making a profound difference for individual students and for the lives those students touch as graduates of Texas A&M University. For more information about contributing to scholarships in the Department of Nuclear Engineering, contact Andy Acker, Director of Development - Engineering ( 979) 845-5113 a-acker@tamu.edu
Texas A&M University
Department of Nuclear Engineering Zachry Engineering Center 3133 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3133
nuclear.tamu.edu 32