The RBMK reactor design pictured above was used at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. This severely flawed design has a "positive void coefficient", meaning the nuclear chain reaction and power output increases when cooling water is lost. (Image courtesy of U.S. Dept. of Energy's International Nuclear Safety Center.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Mujid S. Kazimi
Prof. Oral Buyukozturk
MIT Course Number
22.314J / 1.56J / 2.084J
As Taught In
Fall 2006
Level
Graduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
This course deals with structural components in nuclear power plant systems, their functional purposes, operating conditions, and mechanical-structural design requirements. It combines mechanics techniques with models of material behavior to determine adequacy of component design. Considerations include mechanical loading, brittle fracture, in-elastic behavior, elevated temperatures, neutron irradiation, and seismic effects.
Other Versions
Other OCW Versions
Archived versions: 