b'1.2 FROM THE DIRECTORT he mission of the AdvancedAdvanced Modeling and Simulation Fuels Campaign (AFC) is to(NEAMS) program, collaborating with perform or support research,NEAMS in developing mechanistic development, and demonstrationfuel behavior models and providing (RD&D) activities to identify andexperimental data to inform and mature innovative fuels, claddingvalidate its most advanced tools.materials, and associated technolo- Specifically, AFC objectives in the gies with the potential to improvecoming five year horizon include:the performance and enhance the safety of current and future reactors;1.support the industry-led develop-increase the efficient utilization ofment of Accident Tolerant Fuel nuclear energy resources; contribute(ATF) technologies with improved to enhancing proliferation resistancereliability and performance under Steven Hayes of the nuclear fuel cycle; and addressnormal operations and enhanced challenges related to waste manage- tolerance during hypothetical National Technical Directorment and ultimate disposal. accident scenarios, with imple-(208) 526-7255mentation of batch reloads of one steve.hayes@inl.gov AFC pursues its mission objectivesor more near-term ATF concept(s) using a goal-oriented, science-basedin commercial reactor(s) in the approach that seeks to establish a2023-2026 timeframe;fundamental understanding of fuel and cladding behaviors under condi- 2.collaborate with industry to tions that arise during fabrication,perform the R&D necessary to normal steady-state irradiation,support extending the burnupoff-normal transient scenarios, andof current commercial LWRstorage/disposal.This approachfuels from 62 to 75 GWd/MTU includes advancing the theoreticalby 2026;understanding of fuel behavior,3.lead research and development conducting fundamental and integralon innovative fuel and cladding experiments, and supporting thetechnologies with applications to mechanistic, multi-scale modeling offuture advanced reactors, especial-nuclear fuels to inform and guide fuelly metallic fuels for fast-spectrum development projects, advance thereactors, including reactors that technological readiness of promisingutilize both once-through and fuel candidates, and ultimately supportrecycle scenarios;fuel qualification and licensing initia-tives.In the area of advanced tools4.continue the development and for the modeling and simulation ofdemonstration of a multi-scale, nuclear fuels, the AFC works in closescience-based approach to fuel partnership with the Nuclear Energydevelopment and testing, and contribute to the establishment of 10 2020|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'