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US scientists to test dampers to make nuclear reactors quake-proof

US scientists to test dampers to make nuclear reactors quake-proof
Source: interestingengineering
Author: @IntEngineering
Published: 8/5/2025

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Researchers at the University of Wyoming, led by Assistant Professor Ankit Saxena, are developing a new technology to make nuclear reactors and other infrastructure more resistant to earthquakes. Funded by a $199,064 National Science Foundation grant through July 2027, the project focuses on using particle dampers—devices containing entrapped particles that dissipate vibrational energy through collisions—to protect nuclear power plants from seismic activity. The team aims to optimize the design of these dampers using topology optimization, an advanced iterative engineering technique, to tailor them for effectively absorbing or reflecting earthquake frequencies. While the primary goal is seismic protection for nuclear reactors, the research has broader applications across aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, robotics, defense, and other energy sectors. The technology involves embedding box-like containers with particle dampers around reactors, with materials customized based on local soil and seismic conditions. This approach could also safeguard other energy infrastructure such as wind turbines, coal plants, and hydroelectric projects. Although Wyoming’s upcoming Natrium reactor

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energynuclear-reactorsseismic-protectionparticle-dampersvibration-dampingtopology-optimizationearthquake-safety