Materials Science/Metallurgical Engineer

RAMPRASHAD PRABHAKARAN

*** ******** ***, ***** *****, Idaho 83404

Phone: 208-***-**** ; E-mail: abq0da@r.postjobfree.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/ramprashadprabhakaran

EDUCATION

Ph. D. (expected May 2013), Materials Science & Engineering, University of Idaho, ID

GPA: 3.88/4.00 (pursuing this degree under the Idaho National Laboratory Fellowship program)

Dissertation: Small-scale specimen testing and characterization of friction stir welded irradiated ODS alloys

and U-Mo monolithic fuels

M. S., Mechanical Engineering (Major: Materials Science), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), NV

Summer 2004, Major GPA: 3.91/4.00, Cumulative GPA: 3.83/4.00

Recipient of the UNLV Mechanical Engineering Department Research Assistantship to pursue M.S. degree

Thesis: Environment-induced degradations in a target structural material (martensitic stainless steel) for

transmutation applications (funded by the US DOE)

Honors: Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), Phi Kappa Phi (National Honor Society) and National

Dean’s List

B. S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Madras, Tamilnadu, India

Spring 2001, Major: 71%, Cumulative: 66%

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Research Associate (since Aug’05) - Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID (contract employee)

- Worked on projects related to the advanced structural materials characterization and U-Mo fuel (with

aluminum alloy cladding) development.

- Involved in the development of processing and fabrication techniques for U-Mo and aluminum alloy (Al-

6061) foils, and the evaluation of the material behavior.

- Studied the microstructure and properties and of U-Mo and aluminum alloy (Al-6061) before and after

processing/fabrication (rolling, friction bonding and hot isostatic pressing).

- Evaluated the characteristics of welded joints (friction stir welding and pressure resistance welding) on

oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys, such as MA754 (nickel-chrome superalloy) and MA956

(iron-chromium alloy).

- Extracted the mechanical properties from aluminum and zirconium alloys, stainless steels, advanced

structural materials, welded ODS alloys and nuclear fuels using the micro-indentation hardness, shear

punch, sub-size tensile testing (room and high temperature).

- Performed the microstructural characterization on aluminum and zirconium alloys, stainless steels, welded

ODS alloys and nuclear fuels using optical microscopy, SEM, EDS, EBSD, XRD, FIB, TEM and APT.

- Investigated the neutron irradiation effects on the properties and microstructure of advanced alloys at

various temperatures and doses.

- Designed experiments, performed failure analysis and developed the appropriate structure-property-

processing relationship of materials.

- Applied engineering principles, theories, procedures, codes and standards for practical applications.

- Interpreted engineering drawings, prepared technical reports/journal articles and presented work at

international conferences.

- Identified equipments and laboratory supplies to be purchased, prepared cost-estimates/purchase requests

and coordinated with vendors, suppliers, colleagues, engineers and students.

- Played a key role in establishing a small-scale specimen mechanical testing capability at INL that paved

way for studying irradiated materials.

- Played a key role in testing mechanical test equipments and fixtures at the INL mockup area, prior to

moving these to the INL hot-cell facility and then conducted tests to qualify these for hot-cell use.

- Prepared project proposals submitted to USDOE and ATR-NSUF, after identifying the need and

successfully obtained the projects.

Intern (Jan’05-Aug’05) - Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID

- Worked on a project related to the fabrication and characterization of dispersion fuels (silicon carbide) for

use in high-temperature, gas-cooled fast reactors (GFR).

- Conducted metallurgical operations such as spheroidising, sintering, reaction-bonding and extrusion.

- Performed fractographic and metallographic evaluations by using SEM and optical microscope.

- Prepared technical reports/conference proceedings and presented at conferences.

Graduate Research Associate (Aug’02-Aug’04) - University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV

- Worked on a project related to the study of environment-induced degradations on structural materials

(martensitic stainless steels).

- Performed heat-treatment on materials and studied its effect on the resultant metallurgical microstructure.

- Used hardness testers, impact testers, load frames and electrochemical test equipments for testing

materials.

- Evaluated mechanical properties and susceptibility of materials to SCC, hydrogen embrittlement and

localized corrosion (pitting and crevice corrosion) in various environments and temperatures.

- Conducted fractographic and metallographic evaluations by using SEM, EDS and optical microscope.

- Performed various engineering analyses, such as stress, strain, thermal, surface and failure analyses.

- Used Pro/E, Solid Works, ANSYS and LS-DYNA to develop finite element models and perform

analyses, in order to understand and predict the mechanical behavior of materials.

- Conducted testing using appropriate evaluation methods to ensure the USDOE quality requirements.

- Maintained inventory of supplies, identified equipment and laboratory supplies to be purchased, prepared

cost-estimates, purchase requests and coordinated with vendors and suppliers.

- Prepared reports/technical papers/journal articles and presented at a number of conferences.

- Managed day-to-day affairs of the laboratory and coordinated work with lab mates.

- Assisted in preparing project proposals submitted to the USDOE after identifying the need and

successfully obtained the projects.

Intern (Jan’01-May’01) - Addison and Co. Limited (A member of the Amalgamations Group), India

- Studied the process capability and machine capability (6 sigma) of various center less grinding machines.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Key Reader, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A journal.

• Reviewer, Journal of Materials Engineering & Performance, Metallography, Microstructure & Analysis,

JOM, Journal of Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Technology journals.

• Author of 6 journal articles (3 articles in preparation) and 11 full length papers.

• Member of Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Pi honor societies and National Dean’s List.

• Chair (2013-2015), Vice-chair (2011-2013), TMS/ASM Nuclear Materials Committee.

• Lead Organizer - TMS (2012 & 2013) - Symposiums on Nuclear Fuels & Materials.

• Co-organizer - MS&T (2010, 2011 & 2012) & TMS 2012 (Symposiums on Nuclear Materials).

• Session Chair: Several sessions at TMS and MS&T conferences.

• Received travel scholarships from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, USDOE, ASME, EPI, ANS

and TMS to attend/present papers at the SNS-JINS-NICEST 2003 Conference - Oak Ridge, TN (Mar

2003), IYNC - Canada (May 2004), 12th ICONE Conference - Arlington, VA (Apr 2004), First Annual

Energy Policy Institute Summit - Boise, ID (Mar 2009), ANS 2010 Annual Meeting - San Diego, CA

(June 2010) and TMS 2011 Annual Meeting - San Diego, CA, (Feb 2011), respectively.

• Received scholarship from the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center to attend the LANSCE Neutron

School 2010, Aug 5-13, 2010, Los Alamos, NM.

• Attended a number of international conferences and presented technical papers/posters.

• Awarded UNLV Graduate Research Assistantship to pursue M.S. and INL Fellowship to pursue Ph. D.

• Assisted in preparing project proposals submitted to USDOE and ATR-NSUF after identifying the need

and successfully obtained the projects.

• Presented research findings at 3 international research laboratories.

PROJECTS

• Monolithic fuel development and characterization, since Oct 2007, INL

• Friction stir welding (FSW) studies on irradiated ODS alloys, since Jan 2008, INL

• Influence of fast neutron irradiation on the mechanical properties and microstructure of nanostructured

metals/alloys, NCSU and UI ATR NSUF (Advanced Test Reactor - National Scientific User Facility)

Project Number 29605, since Jan 2008, INL

• Irradiation test plan for the ATR NSUF, University of Wisconsin Pilot Project Number 29126, 2008-

2012, INL

• A comparative study of welded (FSW and pressure resistance welding) ODS cladding materials for

AFCI/GNEP applications, 2008-2009, INL

• Gas-cooled fast reactor fuel development, Jan-Dec 2005, INL

• Environmental effects on candidate target structural materials (martensitic stainless steels) for

transmutation applications, Aug 2002-Aug 2004, UNLV

• Metallurgical characterization by different surface analysis techniques, Jan-May 2004, UNLV

• Failure analysis of the Palms casino chairs, Las Vegas, Aug-Dec 2003, UNLV

• Computational simulation of blast-loading in an open-cylinder model using ANSYS and LS-DYNA,

Aug-Dec 2003, UNLV

JOURNALS

• D. Burkes, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Properties of DU-10 wt% Mo alloys subjected to various post-rolling

heat treatments”, Nuclear Engineering and Design, June 2010, Vol. 240, No. 6, pp. 1332-1339

• D. Burkes, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Mechanical properties of DU-xMo alloys with x = 7-12 wt%”,

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, May 2009, Vol. 40A, No. 5, pp. 1069-1079

• D. Burkes, T. Hartmann, R. Prabhakaran, J. Jue, “Microstructural characteristics of DU-xMo alloys with

x = 7-12 wt%”, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, June 2009, Vol. 479, No. 1-2, pp. 140-147

• R. Prabhakaran, A. Roy, “Degradations of Type 422 stainless steel in aqueous environments”, Materials

Science and Engineering A, April 2006, Vol. 421, No. 1-2, pp. 290-297

• A. Roy, M. Hossain, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Environment-assisted cracking of structural materials under

different loading conditions”, Corrosion, April 2005, Vol. 61, No. 4, pp. 364-370

• A. Roy, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Stress corrosion cracking of nuclear transmutation structural materials”,

Materials Performance, September 2004, Vol. 43, No. 9, pp. 52-56

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Mechanical properties and microstructural characterization of friction stir

processed ODS alloy MA956”, article in preparation

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Mechanical properties and microstructural characterization of friction stir

processed ODS alloy MA754”, article in preparation

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Mechanical properties and microstructural characterization of irradiated friction

stir processed ODS alloys MA956 and MA754”, article in preparation

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS - FULL LENGTH PAPERS

• D. Burkes, M. Okuniewski, R. Prabhakaran, D. Wachs, “Overview of thermophysical and mechanical

properties of monolithic U-10wt% Mo”, Proceedings of research reactor fuel management (RRFM)

conference 2011, Mar 20-24, 2011, Rome, Italy

• D. Burkes, et. al., “Update on fresh fuel characterization of U-Mo alloys”, Proceedings of research reactor

fuel management (RRFM) conference 2009, Mar 20-23, 2009, Vienna, Austria

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Small-scale specimen testing of monolithic U-Mo fuel foils”, Proceedings of

RERTR annual meeting, INL/CON-08-14612, October 5-9, 2008, Washington D.C.

• D. Burkes, et al., “Fresh fuel characterization of U-Mo alloys”, Proceedings of RERTR annual meeting,

October 5-9, 2008, Washington D.C.

• D. Wachs, et al., “Progress in US LEU fuel development”, Proceedings of RRFM conference, March 2-5,

2008, Hamburg, Germany

• A. Roy, R. Prabhakaran, “Stress corrosion cracking of Type 422 stainless steel for transmutation

applications”, Proceedings of IYNC 2004, Paper No. 119, May 9-13, 2004, Toronto, Canada

• R. Prabhakaran, A. Roy, “The Effect of environmental and mechanical variables on stress corrosion

cracking of a martensitic stainless steel for transmutation applications”, Proceedings of ICONE12

conference, Volume 1, Paper No. 49399, p 773-782, April 25-29, 2004, Arlington, VA

• R. Prabhakaran, “Environmental effects on a candidate structural material for transmutation application”,

Proceedings of ANS student conference 2004, April 1-3, 2004, Madison, WI

• A. Roy, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Cracking of target structural materials for transmutation applications”,

Proceedings of NACE Corrosion 2004, Paper No. 4559, March 28-April 1, 2004, New Orleans, LA

• A. Roy, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Effect of environmental variables on cracking of martensitic stainless

steels under different loading conditions”, Proceedings of ANS Global 2003 conference, Paper No.

87869, pp. 1824-1829, November 16-20, 2003, New Orleans, LA

• A. Roy, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Environment-induced degradation of spallation target materials”,

Proceedings of ANS 6th International meeting on nuclear applications of accelerator technology

(AccApp’03), Paper No. 79416, pp. 893-899, June 1-5, 2003, San Diego, CA

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS - SUMMARIES

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “Irradiation studies on friction stir welded ODS alloys”, TMS 2013 annual

meeting, Mar 3-7, 2013, San Antonio, TX

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “Mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of fresh U-Mo fuels”,

TMS 2013 annual meeting, Mar 3-7, 2013, San Antonio, TX

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “The effect of neutron irradiation on friction stir welded MA956 and MA754”,

Materials science & technology (MS&T) 2012, Oct 7-11, 2012, Pittsburgh, PA

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “An update on the mechanical properties of U-Mo fuels”, Materials science &

technology (MS&T) 2012, Oct 7-11, 2012, Pittsburgh, PA (Invited talk)

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “Irradiation studies on friction stir welded MA956 and MA754”, TMS 2012

annual meeting, Mar 11-15, 2012, Orlando, FL

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “Mechanical properties of U-Mo fuels”, TMS 2012 annual meeting, Mar 11-15,

2012, Orlando, FL

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “Irradiation studies on friction stir welded ODS alloys”, Materials science &

technology (MS&T) 2011, Oct 16-20, 2011, Columbus, OH

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “Studying the effect of carbon on DU-Mo foil fabrication for the RERTR

application”, Materials science & technology (MS&T) 2011, Oct 16-20, 2011, Columbus, OH

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “Microstructure and mechanical properties of irradiated friction stir welded ODS

alloys”, TMS 2011 annual meeting, Feb 27-Mar 3, 2011, San Diego, CA

• R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “Mechanical properties of fresh and neutron irradiated U-Mo fuels for the

RERTR application”, TMS 2011 annual meeting, Feb 27-Mar 3, 2011, San Diego, CA

• H. MacLean, K. Sridharan, R. Prabhakaran, et. al., “Program for irradiation of reactor structural materials

at the ATR-National scientific user facility”, TMS 2011 annual meeting, Feb 27-Mar 3, 2011, San Diego,

CA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Friction stir welding of MA956 and MA754 ODS alloys”, Materials science &

technology (MS&T) 2010, Oct 17-21, 2010, Houston, TX

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Mechanical characteristics of fresh and irradiated U-10Mo fuel”, Materials

science & technology (MS&T) 2010, Oct 17-21, 2010, Houston, TX

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “An investigation of the mechanical properties of fresh and irradiated U-Mo

fuels”, ANS 2010 annual meeting (NFSM), June 13-17, 2010, San Diego, CA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Friction stir welding of oxide dispersion strengthened alloys”, ANS 2010 annual

meeting (NFSM), June 13-17, 2010, San Diego, CA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Studying the effect of carbon on DU-Mo foil fabrication using small-scale

specimen testing”, TMS Annual Meeting, Feb 14-18, 2010, Seattle, WA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Mechanical properties of fresh and irradiated monolithic U-Mo fuels”, Feb 14-

18, 2010, Seattle, WA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of friction stir welded ODS

alloys”, TMS Annual Meeting, Feb 14-18, 2010, Seattle, WA

• K. Chitrada, et al., “Weldability characteristics of oxide dispersion strengthened alloys: An overview”,

TMS Annual Meeting, Feb 14-18, 2010, Seattle, WA

• M. Okuniewski, et al., “An integrated approach to the mechanical behavior”, RERTR 2009, Nov 1-5,

2009, Beijing, China

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Miniaturized specimen testing of U-Mo monolithic fuels”, MS&T 2009, Oct 25-

29, 2009, Pittsburgh, PA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded MA956 and

MA754”, MS&T 2009, Oct 25-29, 2009, Pittsburgh, PA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Miniaturized specimen testing of U-Mo monolithic fuels & friction-stir welded

MA956 Alloy”, Proc. of 12th Annual Intermountain Grad. Research Symposium, Apr 1, 2009, Logan, UT

• D. Burkes, et al., “Update on fresh fuel characterization of U-Mo alloys”, RRFM Conference, Mar 22-25,

2009, Vienna, Austria

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Miniaturized specimen testing of monolithic fuels and structural materials”, TMS

Annual Meeting, Feb 15-17, 2009, San Francisco, CA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded MA956”, TMS

Annual Meeting, Feb 15-17, 2009, San Francisco, CA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Miniaturized specimen testing of monolithic fuels”, TMS Annual Meeting,

Graduate Student Poster Session, Feb 15-17, 2009, San Francisco, CA

• D. Burkes, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of U-Mo alloys”,

RERTR Annual Meeting, October 5-9, 2008, Washington D.C.

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Small-scale specimen testing of irradiated MA 754 and MA 957 alloys”, MS&T,

October 5-9, 2008, Pittsburgh, PA

• R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Small-scale specimen testing of monolithic fuels and structural materials”, ANS

Annual Meeting (NFSM), June 8-12, 2008, Anaheim, CA

• R. Fielding, M. Meyer, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Gas fast reactor fuel development”, Transactions of the

ANS 2005 Winter Meeting, v 93, pp. 775-776, November 13-17, 2005, Washington D.C.

• R. Prabhakaran, “Fabrication and characterization of dispersion fuel”, ANS Student Conference 2005,

April 14-16, 2005, Columbus, OH

• A. Roy, R. Prabhakaran, “Characterization of environment-induced degradation in Type 422 stainless

steel”, TMS 2004, March 14-18, 2004, Charlotte, NC

• A. Roy, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Environmental effects on materials for nuclear applications”, MS&T

2003, November 9-12, 2003, Chicago, IL

• A. Roy, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Cracking of martensitic stainless steels under applied electrochemical

potential”, 204th Meeting of ECS, Abstract # 1255, October 12-17, 2003, Orlando, FL

• A. Roy, R. Prabhakaran, et al., “Effects of environmental variables and stress concentration on cracking of

spallation target materials”, 203rd Meeting of ECS, Abstract # 1283, April 27-May 2, 2003, Paris, France

• R. Prabhakaran, “Stress corrosion cracking of Type 422 stainless steel”, ANS Student Conference, April

2-5, 2003, Berkeley, CA

• R. Prabhakaran, “Stress corrosion cracking of Type 422 stainless steel for applications in Spallation-

Neutron-Target systems”, SNS-JINS-NICEST 2003, March 12, 2003, Oak Ridge, TN

SEMINARS/LECTURES

• R. Prabhakaran, “Radiation effects on structural materials for advanced reactors”, PSG College of

Technology, January 3, 2007, Coimbatore, India

• R. Prabhakaran, “Stress corrosion cracking of transmutation target structural materials in aqueous

environments”, National Metallurgical Laboratory, December 23, 2003, Jamshedpur, India

• R. Prabhakaran, “Stress corrosion cracking of transmutation target structural materials in aqueous

environments”, Tata Steel R&D, December 22, 2003, Jamshedpur, India

• R. Prabhakaran, “Hydrogen-induced embrittlement of candidate target materials for applications in

Spallation-Neutron-Target systems”, Harry Reid Center, UNLV, January 29, 2003, Las Vegas, NV

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

• Chair (2013-2015) & Vice-chair (2011-2013), TMS Nuclear Materials Committee

• Awards Committee Member, NA-YGN National Awards Committee (since 2006)

• Secretary, NA-YGN Knowledge Transfer and Retention Committee (since July 2011)

• Secretary, UNLV ANS student chapter (2003-04)

• Secretary, NA-YGN Eastern Idaho chapter (2006-2007)

• Member of TMS, ASM, ANS, NA-YGN, ANS Idaho section

• TMS Committee Member, Mechanical Behavior of Materials & Corrosion & Environmental Effects

SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES

• As the Secretary of UNLV ANS student chapter, coordinated social, technical and extra-curricular

activities. These activities include organizing tours (Yucca Mountain Site and Nevada Test Site) and

technical seminars in areas of materials, mechanical and nuclear engineering and also help creating

awareness among students to participate in professional society meetings and conferences.

• Participated in several annual science exhibitions, cultural & inter-school competitions and took an active

part in organizing school and college annual day and cultural shows as the group leader of school scouts.

• Assisted in organizing science exhibitions, Idaho science Olympiads, INL science expo’s, workshops and

a number of activities promoting science and engineering among high school and college students.

• Regular volunteer: Salvation Army bell ringers (Christmas Eve), Idaho Falls earth day celebration, youth

jam first book and local rummage sales.

REFERENCES

Available upon request

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