Computational Modelling Structural Integrity for Nuclear Power Engineering

As the demand for low carbon electricity increases, the working lifespans of many of the UK's civil nuclear power facilities have been extended. The increased risk associated with extending the lives of these Advanced Gas cooled Reactors (AGRs) beyond their intended design life combined with the delicate public opinion of the nuclear industry as a whole require that the operational safety of these plants be rigorously ensured.

Due to the harsh operating environment inside the AGRs core, material degradation issues including creep and brittle fracture are commonly found in critical components such as coolant pipes and graphite moderator bricks. It is essential that these problems be studied and modelled to a high degree in order to ensure continued safe operation.

The proposed PhD aims to produce robust computational solutions to fracture and structural integrity problems relating to various critical components found in AGRs. Utilising the MoFEM finite element code developed at the University of Glasgow, solutions to the aforementioned fracture problems can be developed with improved accuracy over commercial finite element packages. This research is of high importance to the industrial sponsor EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd. and will contribute to the UK's energy security.