Nondestructive Evaluation of Uranium: Fundamentals and Future

Abstract

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) capabilities have historically been slow to catch on in the processing of uranium, perhaps due to the difficulties associated with its anisotropy and reactivity or perhaps owing to the limited number of uranium applications. Whatever the case, NDE of uranium components has lagged behind the advances in the field for other material systems, despite some of the actinide’s unique properties. A review is presented of the fundamentals supporting NDE techniques as well as the methods themselves which are applicable to uranium systems. Specific features of uranium metallurgy, such as its high degree of anisotropy and low temperature behavior which may be exploited for the purposes of NDE, are described. Finally, case studies in uranium NDE are reviewed briefly in light of the fundamentals established in prior sections.