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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,333 records · Page 74

Artemis Internal Science Team Update: Hardware and Integrated Testing

The Artemis program will reestablish human presence on the Moon and lead to a new era of scientific discovery and exploration. Led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Artemis program is a collaboration of space agencies and companies from around the world. In support of the Artemis program a cross disciplinary effort integrating science, engineering, operations, and human factors is currently being developed to identify methods, facilities, and field locations to test hardware, train astronauts, and evaluate concepts of operations. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) established a comprehensive Science Team structure to support the Artemis program. This structure includes 1) an Artemis Internal Science Team (AIST), 2) a Geology Team (GT) with additional Participating Scientists (PS) roles, and 3) Payload Teams (PT) for the inclusion of scientific instruments. The GT, PS and PT will be competitively selected for each mission as part of NASA’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) solicitations. The AIST provides multi-mission continuity and has been working closely with Artemis program elements to best integrate science into all aspects of planning and development. This abstract serves to provide an AIST update on science relevant hardware developments and integrated testing efforts that occurred in 2022.

Trevor George Graff↗

Savannah River Remediation Liquid Waste Operations Lifecycle Savings through a Lean Business System at the Savannah River Site - 17245

Savannah River Remediation (SRR) was contracted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage its liquid waste project at the Savannah River Site. The liquid waste project is a unique, high hazard nuclear waste treatment and disposal facility consisting of 51 one million-gallon underground waste tanks, a solvent extraction processing unit, a vitrification facility for the highest radioactive waste, and a grout solidification and disposal facility for lower radioactive decontaminated salt solution. Our Project mission is to treat the nuclear waste and close the associated storage and treatment facilities, of which, 8 tanks have been closed to date. The Lean philosophy took root decades ago in the manufacturing sector and started with the work of W. Edwards Deming and his contemporaries. In more recent years the process has matured in the Toyota Production System and migrated into fields as diverse as services industries, health-care, and now the DOE complex. At SRR, a Lean business management system was adopted to address site inefficiencies, aging infrastructure concerns and budget constraints. With yearly escalation and flat budgets, continuous improvement is taking on a larger role - improving the work accomplished for each dollar. This paper focuses on the program results achieved to date, including the lifecycle savings identified through the Rapid Improvement Event (RIE) process. The RIE process is a Lean tool which creates a cross-functional team to analyze, develop and implement improvements for a given process. DOE-EM has recently emphasized the value of contractor's continuous improvement programs through their implementation of Plan of Action and Milestone (POAM): Goal 2 (Increase Efficiency/Improve Performance) Reduce EM Operations Cost in FY16. POAM Goal 2 was a FY 16 effort to achieve 5% cost savings across most programs. This past year's cost savings initiatives will likely become a trend as DOE and its contractors look to do more with less. In support of our own business objectives, as well as, DOE's motivation to improve efficiencies, SRR has held over one hundred formal Lean events and dozens of 5S events that have driven improvement across the Project, including tank closure and production facilities. These improvements have significantly reduced the time required to process material and achieve the overall goal of hazard reduction and tank closure. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Recent highlights from GENIE v3

Abstract The release of GENIE v3.0.0 was a major milestone in the long history of the GENIE project, delivering several alternative comprehensive neutrino interaction models, improved charged-lepton scattering simulations, a range of beyond the Standard Model simulation capabilities, improved experimental interfaces, expanded core framework capabilities, and advanced new frameworks for the global analysis of neutrino scattering data and tuning of neutrino interaction models. Steady progress continued following the release of GENIE v3.0.0. New tools and a large number of new physics models, comprehensive model configurations, and tunes have been made publicly available and planned for release in v3.2.0. This article highlights some of the most recent technical and physics developments in the GENIE v3 series.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

ARPA-E: Redefining the Problem to Fine New Solutions

ARPA-E brings together experts from diverse disciplines and industries to frame new ways of looking at the energy challenge. By viewing the problem through a different lens, ARPA-E brings together new capabilities to develop new technology solutions. The DELTA and MONITOR programs illustrate this novel approach well. In this video, Associate Director of Technology Dr. Patrick McGrath discusses how ARPA-E has reframed the challenge of building efficiency with the DELTA program and methane leaks with the MONITOR program differently in order to yield “out of left field” technologies that can lead to transformational gains. The video features two projects – University of California San Diego’s DELTA project and Rebellion Photonics’ MONITOR project.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Space radiation health program plan

The Space Radiation Health Program intends to establish the scientific basis for the radiation protection of humans engaged in the exploration of space, with particular emphasis on the establishment of a firm knowledge base to support cancer risk assessment for future planetary exploration. This document sets forth the technical and management components involved in the implementation of the Space Radiation Health Program, which is a major part of the Life Sciences Division (LSD) effort in the Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). For the purpose of implementing this program, the Life Sciences Division supports scientific research into the fundamental mechanisms of radiation effects on living systems and the interaction of radiation with cells, tissues, and organs, and the development of instruments and processes for measuring radiation and its effects. The Life Sciences Division supports researchers at universities, NASA field centers, non-profit research institutes and national laboratories; establishes interagency agreements for cooperative use and development of facilities; and conducts a space-based research program using available and future spaceflight vehicles.

Source record↗

The U.S. Agrivoltaic Shading Tool: A National-Scale Interface for Modeling Light and Shade Patterns in Ten Common Agrivoltaic Configurations

Agrivoltaic systems are dual-use configurations that co-locate agriculture and photovoltaic (PV) infrastructure and require careful design to balance crop performance and energy generation. A critical element of agrivoltaic design is the spatial and temporal distribution of irradiance and shade within and around PV arrays. To support research, planning, and stakeholder decision-making, we introduce the U.S. Agrivoltaic Shading Tool, a novel web-based application that delivers high-resolution irradiance and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) modeling for ten standardized PV configurations across the conterminous United States. The tool leverages the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) System Advisor Model (SAM) to perform detailed irradiance simulations, using meteorological data from the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB). Outputs include seasonal, monthly, weekly, and diurnal patterns of available sunlight, amount of shade, irradiance, and PAR at ground level within agrivoltaic system footprints. For a user's selected location, these results are visualized through interactive visualizations, heatmaps, and time-series plots, designed to be accessible to both technical and non-technical users. In addition to facilitating rapid spatial exploration of agrivoltaic light environments, the tool will offer seamless integration with the InSPIRE Agrivoltaics Design and Analysis Model (ADAM). This optional workflow will allow users to port selected site and configuration parameters into a more advanced modeling environment for further customization of structural layouts, crop-system compatibility, power generation, and technoeconomic performance. Finally, to promote open science, the entire dataset will be hosted and available for open access through the OpenEI platform. By standardizing and disseminating high-quality irradiance data and design tools, the U.S. Agrivoltaic Shading Tool supports a wide range of users, including researchers, landowners, energy developers, and policymakers, in evaluating the agronomic and energetic feasibility of agrivoltaic systems across the United States.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Illuminating the geology: Post-injection reservoir characterisation of the CO2CRC Otway site

Proper site characterisation is essential in the planning stages of a CO 2 storage project; but we can also learn a good deal about the reservoir once the injection is underway or has been completed. During CO2CRC Otway Project Stage 2C, sources of valuable information about storage performance have been generated as a consequence of the staged injection of 15,000 t of CO 2 rich gas, as well as observations from time-lapse seismic surveys and well monitoring data. Now that injection has ceased for Stage 2C, the geological model is compared against field observations for the period spanning injection and 23 months after injection ended. The post-injection reservoir characterisation has proven critical to refine the static and dynamic models for future field development and added assurance about the long-term stabilisation of the CO 2 plume. The south-eastern progress of plume development, as seen on the time-lapse seismic data, has led to a review of the structural interpretation and horizon-fault geometry represented in the models. The developing plume has illuminated the extent of splay faults previously unresolved on the baseline seismic data. Saturation profiles interpreted from pulsed-neutron logs at the injection and observation wells show a preference for higher saturations occurring in high permeability distributary channels penetrated by each of the wells. This has reduced the uncertainty in predicting connectivity of this facies between the wells. The pressure data from numerous injection events has been used to refine the characterisation of the average horizontal permeability of the reservoir zone, and the vertical permeability of the intra-formational seal. Furthermore, it has been used to infer near-field bounding conditions of the interior splay fault, which in turn improves our understanding of containment at the site.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

The Arctic-Boreal vulnerability experiment model benchmarking system

Abstract NASA’s Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) integrates field and airborne data into modeling and synthesis activities for understanding Arctic and Boreal ecosystem dynamics. The ABoVE Benchmarking System (ABS) is an operational software package to evaluate terrestrial biosphere models against key indicators of Arctic and Boreal ecosystem dynamics, i.e.: carbon biogeochemistry, vegetation, permafrost, hydrology, and disturbance. The ABS utilizes satellite remote sensing data, airborne data, and field data from ABoVE as well as collaborating research networks in the region, e.g.: the Permafrost Carbon Network, the International Soil Carbon Network, the Northern Circumpolar Soil Carbon Database, AmeriFlux sites, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2, and the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission. The ABS is designed to be interactive for researchers interested in having their models accurately represent observations of key Arctic indicators: a user submits model results to the system, the system evaluates the model results against a set of Arctic-Boreal benchmarks outlined in the ABoVE Concise Experiment Plan, and the user then receives a quantitative scoring of model strengths and deficiencies through a web interface. This interactivity allows model developers to iteratively improve their model for the Arctic-Boreal Region by evaluating results from successive model versions. We show here, for illustration, the improvement of the Lund–Potsdam–Jena-Wald Schnee und Landschaft (LPJwsl) version model through the ABoVE ABS as a new permafrost module is coupled to the existing model framework. The ABS will continue to incorporate new benchmarks that address indicators of Arctic-Boreal ecosystem dynamics as they become available.

Stofferahn, Eric (ORCID:0000000169604193)↗

Evaluation of Early Performance Results for Massachusetts Homes in the National Grid Pilot Deep Energy Retrofit Program

In 2009, National Grid started a DER pilot program that offered technical support and financial incentives to qualified Massachusetts homeowners who planned and successfully completed a retrofit that incorporated the performance requirements and goals of the National Grid DER measures package. This DER measures package, developed through collaboration with Building Science Corporation (BSC), includes specific thermal and airtightness goals for the enclosure components as well as health, safety, durability, and indoor air quality requirements. By providing measures that can be included with common renovation activities such as roof replacement, window replacement, re-siding, basement remediation, and remodeling, this DER measures package is expected to have widespread application for existing homes in the New England area. The post-retrofit performance and cost ranges provided by this research project can provide concrete input for homeowners who are considering a DER. Field test data available for air tightness measured using blower door test. House 1 - Address Belchertown, MA 01007, Notes: Energy Savings: 75%, Company: Clark House 2-1 and 2 - Address (1) Brownsberger, MA 02478 and (2) Belmont, MA 02478, Notes Energy Savings: 73%, Company: Brownsberger House 3 - Address Millbury, MA 01527, Notes Energy Savings: 31%, Company: Tweedly House 4 - Address Milton, MA 02186 Notes Energy Savings: 42%, Company: Koh House 5 - Address Quincy, MA 02169, Notes Energy Savings: 57%, Company: Hall House 6-1 and 2 - Address Arlington, MA 02476, Notes Energy Savings: 55%, Company: Venable-Hwang House 7 - Address Newton, MA 02459, Notes Energy Savings: 42%, Company: Lavine House 8-1, 2, and 3 - Address Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, Notes Energy Savings: 43%, Company: Buhs House 9 - Address Northampton, MA 01060, Notes Energy Savings: 49%, Company: Wick House 10 - Address Lancaster, MA 01523, Notes Energy Savings: 40%, Company: Habitat for Humanity of North Central Massachusetts House 11 - Address Brookline, MA 02445, Notes Energy Savings: 27%, Company: Aquiline House 12 - Address Westford, MA 01886, Notes Energy Savings: 30%, Company: Atkins House 13 - Address Gloucester, MA 01930, Notes Energy Savings: 35%, Company: Cunningham

airtightness↗

Precision Departure Release Capability (PDRC) Technology Description

After takeoff, aircraft must merge into en route (Center) airspace traffic flows which may be subject to constraints that create localized demand-capacity imbalances. When demand exceeds capacity, Traffic Management Coordinators (TMCs) often use tactical departure scheduling to manage the flow of departures into the constrained Center traffic flow. Tactical departure scheduling usually involves use of a Call for Release (CFR) procedure wherein the Tower must call the Center TMC to coordinate a release time prior to allowing the flight to depart. In present-day operations release times are computed by the Center Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) decision support tool based upon manual estimates of aircraft ready time verbally communicated from the Tower to the Center. The TMA-computed release is verbally communicated from the Center back to the Tower where it is relayed to the Local controller as a release window that is typically three minutes wide. The Local controller will manage the departure to meet the coordinated release time window. Manual ready time prediction and verbal release time coordination are labor intensive and prone to inaccuracy. Also, use of release time windows adds uncertainty to the tactical departure process. Analysis of more than one million flights from January 2011 indicates that a significant number of tactically scheduled aircraft missed their en route slot due to ready time prediction uncertainty. Uncertainty in ready time estimates may result in missed opportunities to merge into constrained en route flows and lead to lost throughput. Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) plans call for development of Tower automation systems capable of computing surface trajectory-based ready time estimates. NASA has developed the Precision Departure Release Capability (PDRC) concept that uses this technology to improve tactical departure scheduling by automatically communicating surface trajectory-based ready time predictions to the Center scheduling tool. The PDRC concept also incorporates earlier NASA and FAA research into automation-assisted CFR coordination. The PDRC concept helps reduce uncertainty by automatically communicating coordinated release times with seconds-level precision enabling TMCs to work with target times rather than windows. NASA has developed a PDRC prototype system that integrates the Center's TMA system with a research prototype Tower decision support tool. A two-phase field evaluation was conducted at NASA's North Texas Research Station (NTX) in Dallas-Fort Worth. The field evaluation validated the PDRC concept and demonstrated reduced release time uncertainty while being used for tactical departure scheduling of more than 230 operational flights over 29 weeks of operations. This paper presents the Technology Description. Companion papers include the Final Report and a Concept of Operations.

tactical departure scheduling↗

Precision Departure Release Capability (PDRC) Concept of Operations

After takeoff, aircraft must merge into en route (Center) airspace traffic flows which may be subject to constraints that create localized demandcapacity imbalances. When demand exceeds capacity Traffic Management Coordinators (TMCs) often use tactical departure scheduling to manage the flow of departures into the constrained Center traffic flow. Tactical departure scheduling usually involves use of a Call for Release (CFR) procedure wherein the Tower must call the Center TMC to coordinate a release time prior to allowing the flight to depart. In present-day operations release times are computed by the Center Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) decision support tool based upon manual estimates of aircraft ready time verbally communicated from the Tower to the Center. The TMA-computed release is verbally communicated from the Center back to the Tower where it is relayed to the Local controller as a release window that is typically three minutes wide. The Local controller will manage the departure to meet the coordinated release time window. Manual ready time prediction and verbal release time coordination are labor intensive and prone to inaccuracy. Also, use of release time windows adds uncertainty to the tactical departure process. Analysis of more than one million flights from January 2011 indicates that a significant number of tactically scheduled aircraft missed their en route slot due to ready time prediction uncertainty. Uncertainty in ready time estimates may result in missed opportunities to merge into constrained en route flows and lead to lost throughput. Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) plans call for development of Tower automation systems capable of computing surface trajectory-based ready time estimates. NASA has developed the Precision Departure Release Capability (PDRC) concept that uses this technology to improve tactical departure scheduling by automatically communicating surface trajectory-based ready time predictions to the Center scheduling tool. The PDRC concept also incorporates earlier NASA and FAA research into automation-assisted CFR coordination. The PDRC concept helps reduce uncertainty by automatically communicating coordinated release times with seconds-level precision enabling TMCs to work with target times rather than windows. NASA has developed a PDRC prototype system that integrates the Center's TMA system with a research prototype Tower decision support tool. A two-phase field evaluation was conducted at NASA's North Texas Research Station (NTX) in DallasFort Worth. The field evaluation validated the PDRC concept and demonstrated reduced release time uncertainty while being used for tactical departure scheduling of more than 230 operational flights over 29 weeks of operations. This paper presents the Concept of Operations. Companion papers include the Final Report and a Technology Description. ? SUBJECT:

tactical departure scheduling↗

The 2015-2016 SEPMAP Program at NASA JSC: Science, Engineering, and Program Management Training

The Systems Engineering Project Management Advancement Program (SEPMAP) at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is an employee development program designed to provide graduate level training in project management and systems engineering. The program includes an applied learning project with engineering and integrated science goals requirements. The teams were presented with a task: Collect a representative sample set from a field site using a hexacopter platform, as if performing a scientific reconnaissance to assess whether the site is of sufficient scientific interest to justify exploration by astronauts. Four teams worked through the eighteen-month course to design customized sampling payloads integrated with the hexacopter, and then operate the aircraft to meet sampling requirements of number (≥ 5) and mass (≥ 5g each). The "Mars Yard" at JSC was utilized for this purpose. This project activity closely parallels NASA plans for the future exploration of Mars, where remote sites will be reconnoitered ahead of crewed exploration.

Graham, L.↗

The Arctic-Boreal vulnerability experiment model benchmarking system

NASA's Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) integrates field and airborne data into modeling and synthesis activities for understanding Arctic and Boreal ecosystem dynamics. The ABoVE Benchmarking System (ABS) is an operational software package to evaluate terrestrial biosphere models against key indicators of Arctic and Boreal ecosystem dynamics, i.e.: carbon biogeochemistry, vegetation, permafrost, hydrology, and disturbance. The ABS utilizes satellite remote sensing data, airborne data, and field data from ABoVE as well as collaborating research networks in the region, e.g.: the Permafrost Carbon Network, the International Soil Carbon Network, the Northern Circumpolar Soil Carbon Database, AmeriFlux sites, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2, and the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission. The ABS is designed to be interactive for researchers interested in having their models accurately represent observations of key Arctic indicators: a user submits model results to the system, the system evaluates the model results against a set of Arctic-Boreal benchmarks outlined in the ABoVE Concise Experiment Plan, and the user then receives a quantitative scoring of model strengths and deficiencies through a web interface. This interactivity allows model developers to iteratively improve their model for the Arctic-Boreal Region by evaluating results from successive model versions. We show here, for illustration, the improvement of the Lund–Potsdam–Jena-Wald Schnee und Landschaft (LPJwsl) version model through the ABoVE ABS as a new permafrost module is coupled to the existing model framework. The ABS will continue to incorporate new benchmarks that address indicators of Arctic-Boreal ecosystem dynamics as they become available.

ABoVE↗

Habitability Considerations for a Notional Five-Day Small Pressurized Rover Excursion

Within the Artemis program, the Pressurized Rover (PR) is intended to support two-person mobile habitation up to roughly thirty days in duration. Lunar surface use of the PR, however, assumes a crew swap approximately halfway through a 33-day surface mission. Within that shorter duration, a rover crew may perform one or more excursions to remote sites in support of specific mission science or operational objectives. An important consideration in rover design is ensuring that the habitation accommodations in the vehicle support these types of missions. No pressurized rovers have ever been used in human spaceflight, but several have been proposed. The current NASA pressurized rover reference configuration is based on the third generation of the prototype small pressurized rover initially developed under Constellation. Using the NASA reference configuration, habitability considerations are discussed in the context of a notional five-day science excursion. The primary focus will be on the time the crew spends in the cabin, as opposed to time spent outside the vehicle on science-based EVAs. On each day of the excursion, the specific crew activities will be detailed. Crew activities that will be assessed include post sleep, EVA preparation, daily planning conference, private medical conference, traverse driving, EVA cabin egress, EVA cabin ingress, post-EVA activity, crew meals, pre-egress site observation and analysis, crew exercise, pre-sleep, and sleep. Considerations for crew fatigue will be discussed, including lessons learned from field testing. Finally, the assessment will identify hypotheses to assess in future analog missions and suitable test campaigns to evaluate them.

Pressurized Rover↗

Irradiation Assessment of a Lightweight Industrial Robot - Towards Faster, Safer and Sooner Waste Decommissioning - 20317

Robotic systems have been successfully applied in the nuclear industry for several decades as a safe approach to minimize the exposure dose of human operators. As nuclear waste management and decommissioning gathers pace, there is an emerging interest integrating modern off-the-shelf industrial robots in nuclear robotic systems which make use of complex electronics and software to improve functionality over traditional machines. The use of the industrial robots will significantly increase the pace of development of automated waste management systems at a reduced cost, and although these off-the-shelf robots are proven robust in typical industrial environments, performance in radioactive environments is less clear. This paper investigates the performance degradation of a lightweight industrial robot (KUKA iiwa 7 LBR 800) in a controlled radiation field, aiming to simulate conditions in highly radioactive nuclear waste handling facilities. The degradation of the industrial robot's performance is identified while measuring the air kerma dose-tolerance of sensitive components, via a systematic experimental methodology. The experience from this experiment has demonstrated the significant capabilities of industrial robots, which tolerated a large gamma dose of 164 Gy before a system failure. Future tests are planned, aiming to enable faster, safer and sooner waste management and decommissioning using complex robotic systems. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Demonstration of Niobium Tin in 218 MHz Low-beta Quarter Wave Accelerator C

A 218 MHz quarter wave niobium cavity has been fabricated for the purpose of demonstrating Nb3Sn technology on a low-beta accelerator cavity. Niobium-tin has been established as a promising next generation SRF material, but development has focused primarily in high- beta elliptical cell cavities. This material has a significantly higher TC than niobium, allowing for design of higher frequency quarter wave cavities (that are subsequently smaller) as well as for significantly lowered cooling requirements (possibly leading to cryocooler based designs). The fabrication, initial cold testing, and Nb3Sn coating are discussed as well as test plans and details of future applications.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Demonstration of Niobium Tin in 218 MHz Low-beta Quarter Wave Accelerator C

A 218 MHz quarter wave niobium cavity has been fabricated for the purpose of demonstrating Nb3Sn technology on a low-beta accelerator cavity. Niobium-tin has been established as a promising next generation SRF material, but development has focused primarily in high- beta elliptical cell cavities. This material has a significantly higher TC than niobium, allowing for design of higher frequency quarter wave cavities (that are subsequently smaller) as well as for significantly lowered cooling requirements (possibly leading to cryocooler based designs). The fabrication, initial cold testing, and Nb3Sn coating are discussed as well as test plans and details of future applications.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A machine learning approach to thermal conductivity modeling: A case study on irradiated uranium-molybdenum nuclear fuels

A deep neural network was developed for the purpose of predicting thermal conductivity with a case study performed on irradiated nuclear fuel. Traditional thermal conductivity modeling approaches rely on existing theoretical frameworks that describe known, relevant phenomena that govern the microstructural evolution processes during neutron irradiation (such as recrystallization, and pore size, distribution and morphology). Current empirical modeling approaches, however, do not represent all irradiation test data well. We develop a machine learning approach to thermal conductivity modeling that does not require a priori knowledge of a specific material microstructure and system of interest. Our approach allows re-searchers to probe dependency of thermal conductivity on a variety of reactor operating and material conditions. The purpose of building such a model is to allow for improved predictive capabilities linking structure-property-processing-performance relationships in the system of interest (here, irradiated nuclear fuel), which could lead to improved experimental test planning and characterization. The uranium-molybdenum system is the fuel system studied in this work, and historic irradiation test data is leveraged for model development. Our model achieved a mean absolute percent error of approximately 10%. Results indicate our model generalizes well to never before seen data, and thus use of deep learning methods for material property predictions from limited, historic irradiation data is a viable approach. This work challenges the current paradigm in materials science, where material property models are based on limited experimental data fitted to low-dimensionality phenomenological models, or by simulations in which fundamental equations are explicitly solved. The work presented here aims to demonstrate the potential and limitations of machine learning in the field of materials science and material property modeling.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗