Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The goal is to understand the basic physics governing the accumulation of radiation damage in materials, when and where radiation effects need to be considered, and how the radiation damage affects the physical and mechanical properties of materials.

 

After the course, the student will be able to

  • list the different types of defects induced by radiation in different materials

  • estimate quantitatively whether a given radiation source will cause displacement damage in a material

  • calculate the radiation dose in an irradiated sample in terms of displacements per atom, and the nominal vacancy concentration after a given radiation dose

  • determine whether simple point defects are mobile in a given material under given conditions

  • explain the differences between radiation damage formation and evolution in terms of time scales, and the challenges this poses for experimental validation of radiation damage models

  • describe the effects of radiation damage on the physical and mechanical properties of materials

  • critically discuss the benefits and limitations of models of radiation effects, and the challenges to sustainable nuclear energy in terms of model predictive capability and the need for the development of new materials with superior thermo-mechanical properties and radiation resistance

Credits: 5

Schedule: 27.02.2023 - 31.05.2023

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Andrea Sand

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The radiation damage event, concepts of BCA, TDE, and dpa, point defects and extended defects, thermodynamics of point defects, collision cascades, defect migration and microstructural evolution, precipitation and segregation, swelling, hardening and embrittlement

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    20% for lecture attendance, 50% for exercises, and 30% for project

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    24 h lectures, 24 h exercise sessions, 30 h project work, 57 h independent work

DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    4 Quality Education

    7 Affordable and Clean Energy

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

    13 Climate Action

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language : English

    Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring IV - V
    2023-2024 Spring IV - V