NEA Mandates and Structures


Expert Group on Multi-scale Modelling of Fuels

Chair(s): Michel FREYSS, France
Secretary:  Davide COSTA
(davide.costa@oecd-nea.org)
Vice-Chair(s): Michael WELLAND, Canada
Member(s):All NEA member countries*
Russia (Suspended*)
*Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council.
Full participant(s): European Commission
Under the NEA Statute
Observer(s)(International Organisation): International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
By agreement
Date of creation:30 June 2009
End of mandate:29 June 2021

Mandate (Document reference):

  • Summary Record of the 20th meeting of the Nuclear Science Committee held on 10-12 June 2009 [NEA/SEN/NSC(2009)3]
  • Summary record of the 6th Meeting of the Working Party on Multi-scale Modelling of Fuels and Structural Materials for Nuclear Systems held on 7-8 April 2011 [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPMM(2011)2] Summary Record of the 8th Meeting of the Working Party on Multi-scale Modelling of Fuels and Structural Materials for Nuclear Systems held on 11-12 June 2012 [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPMM(2012)2]
  • Summary Record of the 23rd meeting of the Nuclear Science Committee held on 13-15 June 2012 [NEA/SEN/NSC(2012)3]
  • Summary Record of the 24th meeting of the Nuclear Science Committee held on 12-14 June 2013 [NEA/SEN/NSC(2013)2]
  • Summary Record of the 25th meeting of the Nuclear Science Committee held on 11-13 June 2014 [NEA/SEN/NSC(2014)2]
  • Summary Record of the 26th meeting of the Nuclear Science Committee held on 10-12 June 2015 [NEA/SEN/NSC(2015)2]
  • Summary Record of the 13th meeting of the Working Party on Multi-scale Modelling of Fuels and Structural Materials for Nuclear Systems held on 9-11 May 2017 [NEA/NSC/WPMM/DOC(2017)2]
  • Mandates of the Working Party on Multi-scale Modelling of Fuels and Structural Materials for Nuclear Systems (WPMM) Expert Groups [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPMM(2019)1]

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract from document [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPMM(2019)1]

Mandate

Framework and main objectives

Under the guidance of the Nuclear Science Committee (NSC) and under the mandate of the Working Party on Multi-scale Modelling of Fuels and Structural Materials for Nuclear Systems (WPMM), the objective of the Expert Group on Multiscale Modelling of Fuel (EGM2F) is to share the development of a multi-scale modelling approach of fuels in support of current fuel optimisation programmes and innovative fuel design.

The objectives of the EGM2F are to:

  • assess the worldwide multi-scale modelling approaches devoted to nuclear fuels from the atomic to the macroscopic scale in order to share and promote such approaches;
  • address all types of fuels: both current (mainly oxide fuels) and advanced fuels (such as minor actinide containing oxides fuels, carbide, nitride, metallic fuels);
  • address key engineering issues associated with each type of fuels;
  • assess the quality of existing links between the various scales and list the ground to be covered to strengthen multi-scale modelling approaches and engage with benchmarking and validation methodology;
  • identify the most relevant experimental data or experimental characterisation techniques that are missing for validation of fuel multi-scale modelling;
  • explore the possibility of computing materials properties via data driven model generation and validation;
  • promote exchange between the actors involved at various scales;
  • promote exchange between multi-scale modelling experts and experimentalists;
  • provide support to the creation of task forces to address specific issues in the technical field covered by WPMM, in particular related to fuel modelling.

Associated deliverables

A report from the Task Force on ‘Nuclear fuel micromechanics’ reviewing current applications of micromechanics modelling for nuclear fuels, and identifying limitations and missing material data which could be provided by lower scale modelling techniques or experiments.

The EGM2F will be involved in the organisation of workshops on fuel modelling such as Materials Modeling and Simulation for Nuclear Fuels.

Relationships with other bodies

The EGM2F will maintain close communication with the Expert Group on Reactor Fuel Performance (EGRFP) established by the Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems (WPRS), in particular with respect to the use of fuel properties obtained from micromechanical techniques at the macroscopic scale.