Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
The molecular dynamics (MD) calculation was performed for minor actinide (MA: Np and Am)-containing mixed oxide (MOX) fuels, U0.7-xPu0.3MAxO2, in the temperature range from 300 to around 2500 K to evaluate the thermal expansion, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity. The MD results showed that the calculated heat capacity and thermal conductivity were similar in all the composition ranges, indicating that MA scarcely affected the thermal properties of the MOX fuel in the perfect crystal system.