Ayman Hawari

Distinguished Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Director of Nuclear Reactor Program

Director of Nuclear Reactor Program
  • 919-515-4598
  • Burlington Laboratory 2116

Dr. Hawari is interested in performing experimental and computational investigation (simulations) to understand the fundamentals of the interaction of radiation with matter and the resulting ramifications that impact the engineering of nuclear systems.  Currently, his research group conducts measurements and simulations (using ab initio and molecular dynamics methods) to investigate the scattering of thermal neutrons in matter and to generate thermal neutron scattering cross section data. In addition, they apply atomistic modeling techniques and develop experiments to study the behavior of accident tolerant fuel in the extreme radiation and temperature environments of a nuclear reactor.  Hawari’s group is also engaged in the validation and benchmark of modern nuclear reactor simulation tools in support of transient testing of nuclear fuel. All of these thrust areas directly support the development of Advanced Nuclear Reactors including Small Modular Reactor concepts.

Dr. Hawari’s work also focuses on developing and utilizing radiation beams as probes of matter at the nano-scale. This includes the utilization of thermal neutron beams in imaging and scattering applications, and the use of slow positron beams to assay nano-porosity in matter. These types of beams can be generated using a nuclear reactor such as the PULSTAR research reactor on the NCSU campus. Therefore, he is interested in the development of experimental facilities for nondestructive examination at research reactors. Information about the PULSTAR reactor and facilities developed by Hawari’s group can be found at https://ne.ncsu.edu/nrp/

Education

Ph.D. 1995

Nuclear Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

M.S.E. 1990

Nuclear Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

B.S.E. 1987

Nuclear Engineering

University of Missouri-Rolla

Research Description

Dr. Hawari's work covers various areas that are important for the design of Advanced Nuclear Reactors, including thermal neutron scattering cross sections data generation, computational and experimental investigation of accident tolerant fuel, and the development of modern computational methods to support analysis of transient fuel testing experiments.

Publications

Ab Initio Evaluation of Uranium Carbide S(alpha, beta) and Thermal Neutron Cross Sections
Crozier, J., & Hawari, A. (2023), 15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR DATA FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ND2022, Vol. 284. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202328417005
Benchmark of Neutron Thermalization in Graphite Using a Pulsed Slowing-Down-Time Experiment
Lee, E., Fleming, N. C., & Hawari, A. I. (2023, February 26), NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. https://doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2022.2162789
Challenge for the validation of high-fidelity multi-physics LWR modeling and simulation: Development of new experiments in research reactors
Vaglio-Gaudard, C., Destouches, C., Hawari, A., Avramova, M., Ivanov, K., Valentine, T., … Hudelot, J.-P. (2023), FRONTIERS IN ENERGY RESEARCH, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2023.1110979
Effects of Hydrogen Bonding on Nuclear Data Development of Liquid Anhydrous HF
Ahmed, T., Fleming, N. C., & Hawari, A. I. (2023), 15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR DATA FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ND2022, Vol. 284. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202328417003
Evaluation of Thermal Neutron Scattering Law and Cross Sections for Calcium Hydride
Laramee, B. K., & Hawari, A. I. (2023), 15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR DATA FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ND2022, Vol. 284. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202328417014
FLASSH 1.0: Thermal Scattering Law Evaluation and Cross Section Generation
Fleming, N. C., Manring, C. A., Laramee, B. K., Crozier, J. P. W., Lee, E., & Hawari, A. I. (2023), 15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR DATA FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ND2022, Vol. 284. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202328417007
FLASSH 1.0: Thermal Scattering Law Evaluation and Cross-Section Generation for Reactor Physics Applications
Fleming, N. C., Manring, C. A., Laramee, B. K., Crozier, J. P. W., Lee, E., & Hawari, A. I. (2023, April 21), NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. https://doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2023.2194195
High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectrometry of Pebble Bed Reactor Fuel Using Adaptive Digital Pulse Processing
Saxena, S., & Hawari, A. I. (2023, February 3), NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2022.2148839
Irradiation of ultrasonic sensors and adhesive couplants for application in light water reactor primary loop piping and components
Wall, J. J., Parish, C. M., Dixon, J. T., Hawari, A. I., Liu, M., & Breon, L. (2023), NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, 414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2023.112594
Modeling fission spikes in nuclear fuel using a multigroup model of electronic energy transport
Wormald, J. L., & Hawari, A. I. (2022), JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS, 566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153797

View all publications via NC State Libraries

Grants

Understanding Irradiation Behaviors Of Ultrawide Bandgap Ga2o3 High Temperature Sensor Materials For Advanced Nuclear Reactor Systems
US Dept. of Energy (DOE)(10/01/21 - 9/30/25)
NNCI: North Carolina Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN)
National Science Foundation (NSF)(9/01/20 - 8/31/25)
TSA: Elemental Analysis By Neutron Activation Analysis Of Metals And Metalloids for US EPA.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)(1/01/20 - 12/31/24)
UCN Systematic Studies Instrument
US Dept. of Energy (DOE)(5/20/15 - 12/31/24)
TSA: Understanding irradiation behavior of ultrawide bandgap Ga2O3 high temperature sensor materials for advanced nuclear reactor systems
US Dept. of Energy (DOE)(4/01/22 - 9/30/24)
Development of Thermal Neutron Scattering Law Evaluations
US Dept. of Energy (DOE)(10/01/21 - 9/30/24)
Implementation of Infrastructure for Molten Salt Reactor Development at the PULSTAR Reactor
US Dept. of Energy (DOE)(10/01/20 - 9/30/24)
Development and Evaluation of Thermal Neutron Scattering Law
National Nuclear Security Administration(10/01/19 - 9/30/24)
Enhanced Safety, Operations, and Utilization Infrastructure at the NCSU PULSTAR Reactor
US Dept. of Energy (DOE)(10/01/22 - 9/30/23)
Instrumentation for Enhanced Safety, Utilization, and Operations Infrastructure at the NCSU PULSTAR Reactor
US Dept. of Energy (DOE)(10/01/21 - 9/30/23)