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DOE OSTI · 23047439

A Modified Embedded-Atom Method Interatomic Potential for U-Si

Beeler, Benjamin·Zhang, Yongfeng·Baskes, Michael·Andersson, David
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Abstract

Uranium-silicide (U-Si) fuels are being pursued as a possible accident tolerant fuel (ATF). This uranium alloy fuel benefits from higher thermal conductivity and higher fissile density compared to UO{sub 2}. In order to perform engineering scale nuclear fuel performance simulations, the material properties of the fuel must be known. Currently, the experimental data available for U-Si fuels is rather limited. Thus, multiscale modeling efforts are underway to address this gap in knowledge. In this study, a semiempirical modified Embedded Atom Method (MEAM) potential is presented for the description of the U-Si system. The potential accurately describes not only the primary phase of interest (U{sub 3}Si{sub 2}), but also a variety of U-Si phases across the composition spectrum.

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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS36 MATERIALS SCIENCEACCIDENT-TOLERANT NUCLEAR FUELSATOMSCOMPUTERIZED SIMULATIONDENSITYPERFORMANCESPECTRATHERMAL CONDUCTIVITYURANIUM ALLOYSURANIUM DIOXIDEURANIUM SILICIDES

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Beeler, Benjamin, Zhang, Yongfeng, Baskes, Michael, Andersson, David. 2017-07-01. A Modified Embedded-Atom Method Interatomic Potential for U-Si. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/23047439

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