MECH ENG 7081 - Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Stewardship
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code MECH ENG 7081 Course Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Stewardship Coordinating Unit Mechanical Engineering Term Semester 2 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N Prerequisites MECH ENG 7042, MECH ENG 7046 Restrictions Available to students eligible to have an Australian security clearance Assessment Quizzes, Tests, Essay, Project, Exam Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Mr Eric Fusil
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
Identify nuclear-powered submarines and design philosophies worldwide
Explain the theory of nuclear reactors and describe their systems integrated with a submarine
Summarize the various safety features to implement to prepare seaworthiness demonstration at all stages of the nuclear-powered submarine lifecycle
Apply the design process to carry out the first part of a feasibility phase on a nuclear submarine concept
Compare and calculate key characteristics on nuclear reactors for submarines for energy/propulsion
Evaluate the measures needed for Nuclear Stewardship of Australian Naval Shipyard Facilities
Develop concepts for land-based infrastructures in the Australian context
University Graduate Attributes
No information currently available.
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
No information currently available.
Workload
No information currently available.
Learning Activities Summary
In the Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Nuclear Stewardship course, students embark on an immersive journey into the nuclear propulsion plants of nuclear-powered submarines with a focus on their design, development, and operational support required to ensure their safe, reliable and long-lived operation.
This course is designed to provide students with a unique blend of academic knowledge and real-world experience, equipping them with a deep understanding of naval nuclear propulsion and its importance. The course is suitable for students interested in naval engineering, defence, or nuclear technology.
Throughout the course, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and technologies behind nuclear propulsion, including the first principles governing nuclear power generation, reactor design concepts, nuclear fuel cycles, and safety measures. This knowledge is applied to various submarine classes and their architecture, ensuring seaworthiness. Students also explore the lifecycle of nuclear submarines, from design to decommissioning, and examine nuclear stewardship within the context of Australian regulations and social acceptability. Moreover, students delve into the challenges and opportunities presented by the AUKUS endeavour in Australia.
Learning activities include weekly lectures that provide essential background knowledge, while interactive sessions feature video and graphic content to illustrate complex concepts. Students operate a nuclear-powered submarine in a realistic simulation, analyze past accidents, and work on projects to reverse engineer submarines and design new ones. Guest seminars with industry experts enhance students' industry perspectives.
Assessment activities include weekly quizzes, two tests during the semester, a 2,500-word essay on a selected nuclear-powered submarine, a project report on the design of a submarine, and a written exam for students to demonstrate their knowledge.
By the end of the course, students possess a deep understanding of naval nuclear propulsion, safety, and stewardship, making them well-prepared for careers in naval engineering, defence technology, and policy-making.
Specific Course Requirements
Pre-requisites:- MECH ENG 7042,
- MECH ENG 7046
Students must be eligible for an Australian Government security clearance -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
No information currently available.
Assessment Detail
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Submission
No information currently available.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Policies & Guidelines
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