Thermohydraulics and Materials Properties Research Center

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The Thermohydraulics and Materials Properties Research Center facilitates nuclear engineering research at USU (specifically, in the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department) and functions to further assemble expertise and equipment.

USU has established itself in two primary areas of nuclear engineering research: (1) thermal and mechanical performance of materials and (2) thermal hydraulic numerical model validation. The Center’s researchers enjoy close ties with DOE national laboratories and have developed world class expertise in research areas that include nuclear fuels, thermophysical property and instrumentation, high-temperature materials, welding, efficient high-fidelity modeling of thermo-mechanical properties of nuclear materials and structures, thermal hydraulics, turbulence modeling, and other nuclear-related topics.

The Center’s mission is three-fold: 1) develop and disseminate the knowledge and understanding of measurement science and technology in materials thermal and mechanical properties, structure-property-processing-performance relationships for nuclear materials and fuels, and development, validation, and verification of thermal hydraulic models; 2) seek out new research and funding opportunities along the cutting edge in nuclear engineering research and development; and 3) provide research opportunities to prepare students for nuclear engineering careers in the growing nuclear energy sector. 

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