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.
Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2025
Nuclear Technology
April 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
General Kenneth Nichols and the Manhattan Project
Nichols
The Oak Ridger has published the latest in a series of articles about General Kenneth D. Nichols, the Manhattan Project, and the 1954 Atomic Energy Act. The series has been produced by Nichols’ grandniece Barbara Rogers Scollin and Oak Ridge (Tenn.) city historian David Ray Smith. Gen. Nichols (1907–2000) was the district engineer for the Manhattan Engineer District during the Manhattan Project.
As Smith and Scollin explain, Nichols “had supervision of the research and development connected with, and the design, construction, and operation of, all plants required to produce plutonium-239 and uranium-235, including the construction of the towns of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Richland, Washington. The responsibility of his position was massive as he oversaw a workforce of both military and civilian personnel of approximately 125,000; his Oak Ridge office became the center of the wartime atomic energy’s activities.”
Zhifang Gao, Lei Zhao, Yongdian Han
Nuclear Technology | Volume 210 | Number 3 | March 2024 | Pages 471-485
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2023.2229602
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The residual stress of a safe-end/nozzle dissimilar metal welded joint in nuclear power plants was investigated by finite element simulation coupled with a measurement method. Cladding, butting, dissimilar metal multipass welding, machinery processes, and in-service condition were all considered to investigate the evolution of residual stress. The numerical simulation matched well with the measured values, validating the effectiveness of the numerical simulation. Tensile residual stress occurred at both inner and outer surfaces due to a double-side-welding sequence. Moreover, the highest stresses in the outer surface were located at the interface between the SA508 and clad layer due to the difference of expansion materials across the welded joint. The machinery process would greatly reduce the residual stress level and produce compressive residual stress in the base metal. When the safe end was subjected to working conditions, the tensile residual stress obviously was reduced especially on the inner surface.