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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Powering the future: How the DOE is fueling nuclear fuel cycle research and development
As global interest in nuclear energy surges, the United States must remain at the forefront of research and development to ensure national energy security, advance nuclear technologies, and promote international cooperation on safety and nonproliferation. A crucial step in achieving this is analyzing how funding and resources are allocated to better understand how to direct future research and development. The Department of Energy has spearheaded this effort by funding hundreds of research projects across the country through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP). This initiative has empowered dozens of universities to collaborate toward a nuclear-friendly future.
Joel Weisman, Adrian Tentner
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 78 | Number 1 | May 1981 | Pages 1-29
Critical Review | doi.org/10.13182/NSE81-A19603
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A critical overview of the method of characteristics (MOC) and its application to nuclear engineering problems is provided. After examining the mathematical basis of the method, its application to both single- and two-phase flow transients is described. Application of the MOC to neutronics calculations is also considered. Since most current interest in the MOC centers about its application to two-phase systems, this application area is emphasized. Of particular importance is the use of the method for analysis of well posedness of the basic governing equations. An important, but often overlooked, ability of the method is the provision of analytical solutions for transients where only two conservation equations need to be considered. These applications, as well as all of the other major applications of the MOC, are described.