ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Jan 2026
Jul 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2026
Nuclear Technology
January 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
November 2025
Latest News
Jeff Place on INPO’s strategy for industry growth
As executive vice president for industry strategy at the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, Jeff Place leads INPO’s industry-facing work, engaging directly with chief nuclear officers.
C. E. Dickerman, L. E. Robinson, B. Blumenthal, R. Stewart
Nuclear Technology | Volume 3 | Number 1 | January 1967 | Pages 9-17
Technical Paper and Note | doi.org/10.13182/NT67-A27819
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Sodium-bonded Th-20wt%U fast-reactor-type fuel elements have been studied in transient meltdown experiments ranging up to complete sample meltdown, conducted in the TREAT reactor. The high melting thorium matrix supported the fuel during transient heating at temperatures significantly beyond the solidus. Because the fuel was still relatively intact at the temperatures of cladding failure, internal pressure was not effective in ejecting fuel upon failure. The dominant mechanism of fuel movement was gravity.