The 51st Annual Meeting of the Spanish Nuclear Society (SNE), held in Cáceres, reaffirmed itself as the key gathering of the nuclear sector in Spain. With 694 participants, 248 papers, 42 technical sessions, 23 exhibitors, and 31 sponsors and collaborators, the event brought together professionals from industry, academia, and research to discuss the present and future of nuclear energy.
CIMNE took part with its own exhibition stand, enabling direct contact with the Spanish nuclear industry and showcasing the capabilities developed over more than 30 years of collaboration with the sector. The stand was represented by researchers from the Structural and Particle Mechanics cluster, with a large experience in simulation and nuclear safety.
CIMNE exhibition stand at the 51st Annual Meeting of the SNE
CIMNE’s technical highlights
CIMNE researchers shared their expertise in nuclear simulation through the technical sessions: “Numerical Simulation of Nuclear Buildings under Seismic Loading”, presented by Dr. Fernando Rastellini Canela, and “Seismic Risk Characterisation in Nuclear Power Plants”, by Dr. Yeudy Felipe Vargas.
These presentations introduced a methodology for generating seismic records compatible with site target spectra through deconvolution and spectral matching processes. The signals were applied to 3D soil–structure interaction models (fixed and sliding contact), providing more complete and representative in-structure spectra. These results enable improved quantification of seismic impact on plant equipment and serve as critical inputs for Probabilistic Safety Analysis (PSA) studies.
CIMNE won first prize among more than 15 participants with the poster “Numerical Simulation of Nuclear Buildings under Seismic Loading”, presented by Cristhian Albert Padilla Leaños, which visually and interactively summarised the technical work presented in the sessions.
Cristhian Albert Padilla presenting the poster “Numerical Simulation of Nuclear Buildings under Seismic Loading”
Mathias Proboste presented the VR Nuclear experience at the CIMNE exhibition stand, an immersive virtual reality tool designed to explore crack formation in the non-linear pushover response of nuclear buildings in a playful yet educational way. The experience illustrates how cracks initiate and propagate under increasing seismic loads, offering an interactive means of understanding structural behaviour. It also demonstrates the potential of virtual reality for training, on-site safety, and operational planning in nuclear facilities.
Furthermore, Ana María Zapata took part in the Women in Nuclear workshop “The Adventure of Discovering the Scientist Within You”, alongside over 50 students and 10 mentors, promoting STEM careers, sharing experiences, and highlighting the value of mentoring in building a more prepared, diverse, and innovative society.
Ana María Zapata at the Women in Nuclear workshop: “The Adventure of Discovering the Scientist Within You”
Commitment to science, simulation, and nuclear safety
The methodologies and experiences presented are underpinned by international standards and regulatory guidance, highlighting our capabilities in generating seismic spectra and compatible records, advanced modelling of soil–structure interaction, developing more complete and representative in-structure spectra, seismic design of structures and nuclear SSCs, and probabilistic evaluation and PSA methodologies.
With these tools, CIMNE strengthens its commitment to delivering integral solutions for seismic verification and nuclear safety, combining advanced numerical modelling, international standards, and technology transfer.
