Nuclear Multiphysics Simulation

Research focus

In nuclear power plants, reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, structural mechanics, and other physical phenomena do not occur independently; they interact continuously. Changes in reactor power affect coolant temperature and density, which can feed back into neutron behavior and reactivity. Variations in temperature and pressure also influence the thermal and mechanical response of fuel and structures.

During normal operation, these interactions are managed through stable design and control. Under transient and accident conditions, however, coupling and feedback among multiple physical phenomena can strongly influence overall reactor behavior and safety. As SMRs and diverse advanced reactor concepts emerge, reliable analysis of the complex physics associated with new coolants, fuels, cores, and system configurations is becoming increasingly important.

MONAMI Lab uses a range of simulation codes and physical models to study multiphysics phenomena, interactions, and feedback in nuclear reactors. We analyze reactor behavior from normal operation to rapid transients and accident conditions, and assess predictive capability and reliability through comparison with experiments and benchmark results.