Separate effects identification via casting process modeling for experimental measurement of U–Pu–Zr alloys

Computational simulations of gravity casting processes for metallic U–Pu–Zr nuclear fuel rods have been performed using a design-of-experiments technique to determine the fluid flow, liquid heat transfer, and solid heat transfer parameters which most strongly influence the process solidification speed and fuel rod porosity. The results are used to make recommendations for the best investment of experimental time and effort to measure process parameters.