Grant: Industrial Research Chairs

The Industrial Research Chair program supports the life management of the fuel channel, a key mechanicalsystem in a CANDU(R) nuclear power reactor. It supports the CANDU Owner's Group R&D program toaddress life management issues in the existing fleet of 27 operating reactors, as well as research programs atCandu Energy and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to develop improved fuel channel materials and designs forrefurbishment of both existing plants and for future CANDU power plants in the short, medium and long term.The purpose is to further the fundamental understanding of nuclear materials and to develop applied technologyrequired by the industry in this area. This includes radiation-induced deformation of nuclear materials(especially zirconium alloys), the fracture properties of such materials and the relationship of properties tomanufacturing variables, crystallographic texture and microstructure.There are five major research themes:1.Experimental studies of the deformation of Zr alloys (plasticity, creep, fatigue)2.Effect of irradiation: a) on the deformation and microstructure of Zr and Ni alloys, and b) on fracture(fatigue, hydride properties, DHC)3.Effects of hydrides on the properties of Zr alloys4.Modelling: a) of deformation, and b) of effect of hydrides on Zr alloys5.Control of microstructure and texture of alpha-beta zirconium alloys.The program also serves to train graduate students in an area where there is a strong demand for expert HQP.