Course in Thermomechanical Properties of Ceramic Fuels
Online course of 300 h in thermomechanical properties of ceramic fuels. 6 modules covering ASTM C776 (UO₂ sintered pellets), ASTM C833 ((U,Pu)O₂ sintered pellets) and ANSYS Mechanical. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Thermomechanical Properties of Ceramic Fuels — studying from Canada
Canada is a global leader in nuclear technology, most notably through CANDU reactor design and the development of medical isotopes. Ontario operates the largest nuclear fleet in the country, with major facilities at Pickering, Darlington and Bruce, while Atomic Energy of Canada Limited leads reactor research at Chalk River. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates all nuclear activity. Engineers work on reactor design, fuel cycle technologies, decommissioning and radiation protection.
Fees for Canada: C$1,240 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Is this programme recognised by professional bodies in Canada for nuclear engineering?
SEIUM's qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and carry no national accreditation in Canada. Nuclear activities are regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and professional engineering titles are provincially regulated. Nuclear roles often require specific licences or clearances, which a private qualification does not provide. Confirm with employers or the regulator.
Could this qualification help with nuclear career opportunities in Canada?
Canadian nuclear operators, utilities, fuel cycle firms and regulators' supplier networks employ engineers, but they set their own criteria. Many nuclear roles prioritise experience, security clearances and regulator-recognised training. The programme can add technical depth to your profile, but it does not guarantee entry or advancement in this tightly regulated field.
Can I study this online from Canada, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, and no student visa is required if you study from home. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. Fees are payable in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible, and you receive an assigned technical tutor for guidance.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the families of ceramic fuels: oxides, carbides and nitrides.
Compare the thermal properties of ceramic fuels and their dependence on temperature.
Analyse the mechanical behaviour and thermomechanical coupling of pellets.
Model the thermal and stress state of a pellet using finite elements.
Select experimental techniques to characterise thermomechanical properties.
Interpret experimental results against correlations from the literature.
Develop a thermomechanical characterisation project for a ceramic fuel.
Who it's for
- Nuclear materials engineer looking to specialise in Thermomechanical properties of ceramic fuels.
- Fuel design engineer looking to specialise in Thermomechanical properties of ceramic fuels.
- Finite element modelling specialist looking to specialise in Thermomechanical properties of ceramic fuels.
- Researcher in advanced ceramics looking to specialise in Thermomechanical properties of ceramic fuels.
- Characterisation laboratory technician looking to specialise in Thermomechanical properties of ceramic fuels.
- Fuel licensing engineer looking to specialise in Thermomechanical properties of ceramic fuels.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter nuclear fuel manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- ASTM C776 (UO₂ sintered pellets)
- ASTM C833 ((U,Pu)O₂ sintered pellets)
- ASTM E1461 (thermal diffusivity by flash method)
- ASTM C1161 (flexural strength of advanced ceramics)
- ASTM C1327 (Vickers hardness of advanced ceramics)
- ASTM E1269 (specific heat by differential calorimetry)
- NUREG-0800, section 4.2 (fuel system design)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Oxides: uranium dioxide and mixed oxides1.2Uranium and plutonium carbides1.3Nitrides and their interest for advanced reactors1.4Silicides and high-density fuels1.5Coated particles and fuel in graphite matrix1.6Ceramic fuels in salts and in liquid metal1.7Selection criteria according to reactor1.8Fissile material density and its effect1.9Compatibility with coolant and cladding1.10Exercise: matching fuel and reactor type
2.1Thermal conductivity of each family2.2Dependence on temperature, porosity and burn-up2.3Specific heat and enthalpy2.4Thermal expansion and its anisotropy2.5Melting and decomposition points2.6Thermal profile in the fuel element2.7Melting margin and allowable linear power2.8Transfer across the gap and conductance2.9Effect of fill gases2.10Practice: comparing thermal profiles of two fuels
3.1Elasticity, brittleness and toughness3.2Thermal shock resistance3.3Thermal creep and under irradiation3.4Gradient cracking and its modelling3.5Swelling and its effect on the cladding3.6Mechanical interaction between fuel and cladding3.7Cladding stresses and failure criteria3.8Thermal, mechanical and chemical coupling3.9Power transients and cycling3.10Practice: calculating stresses in a transient
4.1Formulation of the thermomechanical problem4.2Geometry, meshing and symmetries4.3Constitutive models for ceramic materials4.4Contact between pellet and cladding4.5Creep and densification models4.6Coupling with gas release4.7Convergence and load steps4.8Verification and validation of the model4.9Fuel performance codes4.10Practice: solving a case with finite elements
5.1Conductivity measurement by transient method5.2Dilatometry and thermal analysis5.3Mechanical tests on ceramics5.4High-temperature creep tests5.5Thermal shock tests5.6Experimental irradiation and power ramps5.7Post-irradiation examination and metrology5.8Property databases5.9Property uncertainty and its propagation5.10Practice: fitting a correlation to data
6.1Choice of fuel and reactor6.2Compilation of thermomechanical properties6.3Thermal model of the element6.4Mechanical model and interaction with the cladding6.5Analysis in normal operation and in transient6.6Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis6.7Proposed experimental programme6.8Verification against design criteria6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Mechanical, COMSOL Multiphysics, Abaqus, Python (SciPy), in free, academic or evaluation versions. The tests are studied through real measurement procedures for thermal diffusivity by laser flash, flexural tests on ceramics and finite element thermomechanical modelling of pellets. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the families of ceramic fuels: oxides, carbides and nitrides.
Compare the thermal properties of ceramic fuels and their dependence on temperature.
Analyse the mechanical behaviour and thermomechanical coupling of pellets.
Model the thermal and stress state of a pellet using finite elements.
Select experimental techniques to characterise thermomechanical properties.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulatory reading.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 total hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses ANSYS Mechanical, COMSOL Multiphysics, Abaqus, Python (SciPy). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area can be credited towards the higher-level programme. Check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.
Related programmes
Ethics in Academic Use of Simulators Course
Online 300-hour course in ethics in the academic use of simulators. 6 modules covering ANSI/ANS-10.4 (verification and validation of scientific software), Directive 2009/24/EC (legal protection of…
International Governance of Nuclear Waste Course
Online 300-hour course in international governance of nuclear waste. 6 modules covering the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety…
Course in Corrosion under Irradiation in Reactors
Online 300-hour course in corrosion under irradiation in reactors. 6 modules covering ASME BPVC Section XI (in-service inspection), NUREG-1801 (GALL report on ageing management) and Thermo-Calc.…
More in Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies
All Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships