Martin Kelly

Martin joined the team at MCM in December 2021 and has over twenty-eight years’ experience of radiological and non-radiological assessments, modelling of contaminant transfer and uptake in the biosphere, and dose and risk assessment.  Martin's experience includes development of conceptual models, detailed numerical models and simplified models that are designed to represent the key processes in a physical system.  He is an expert in the development and construction of assessment models using the GoldSim computer code.

He graduated from the University of York in 1989 with a BSc (1st Class) in Theoretical Physics, and later from the University of Warwick in 1994 with a PhD in Theoretical Physics.

Martin’s current portfolio of projects includes:

• Technical Integration Manager for Phase 2 of RWM’s Non-radiological Integrated Project Team (IPT).  For this, Martin manages a programme of work worth £3 million over four years, to address the treatment of non-radiological contaminants in a GDF.  In addition, he is leading the development of state-of-the-art assessment models for evaluating the potential hazards from non-radiological contaminants in a GDF, including heat and pH.
• Lead assessor on the Backfill IPT at RWM.  This project evaluates the relative performance of different backfill formulations in GDF vaults, in the context of post-closure safety.  The work involves a combination of GoldSim and insight modelling for a number of different host environments.
• Member of the Plutonium IPT at RWM in the role of task leader for post-closure assessments for plutonium disposal concepts.  This work employs a combination of GoldSim and insight modelling.  In addition, Martin is lead modeller for accumulation modelling in support of criticality calculations undertaken for plutonium disposal concepts.

Martin has been the lead conceptual and mathematical modeller for a number of high-profile national and international projects:

• Non-radiological HRA for the SGHWR and Dragon reactors at Winfrith.  The results of this assessment provide a key input to the decision-making process to choose the most appropriate end state design for these two reactors.
• Investigating a range of disposal options for decommissioning wastes arising from the recent accident at Fukushima, Japan.  The options ranged from near-surface disposal to disposal in an engineered facility at depth for more hazardous materials.
• Integrated assessment model for the LLWR that combines the period of authorisation and post-closure phases of the repository.  The task provided a key input to a recent HRA developed for the LLWR.
• Development of numerical assessment models for use by RWM in their 2016 generic DSSC update.  The work involved developing conceptual and mathematical descriptions for four GDF concepts, covering low- and high-heat generating wastes, and higher and lower-strength host rocks.

Other recent project work of note includes:

• Member of the Concepts IPT at RWM, tasked with the development and construction of a set of scoping models for ILW disposals in vaults, in higher-strength, lower-strength and evaporite host environments.
• Provision of support for the permit application to continue disposals at the LLWR in 2013.  This involved additional calculations of consequences in the presence of complexing agents, and waste acceptance criteria.
• LLWR Environmental Safety Case - Project manager and lead assessor for a series of radiological and non-radiological assessments in support of the 2011 ESC for the LLWR.
• Member of the High-heat IPT at RWM, tasked with the development of assessment models suitable for assessing illustrative disposal concepts for HLW and spent fuel.

2019

M. Kelly, D. Holton and D. Roberts, A Method for Understanding the Behaviour of Radioactive Decay Chains in Radiological Assessments, Paper 19382, Waste Management Conference 2019, Phoenix, Arizona, March 2019. (Awarded the title of Superior Paper).

2018

M. Kelly, D. Holton and D. Roberts, A Modelling Framework for Understanding the Impacts of Radioactive and Chemotoxic Waste Disposals, Paper 18199, Waste Management Conference 2018, Phoenix, Arizona, March 2018.

2013

A. Carter, M. Kelly and L.E.F. Bailey, Radioactive High Level Waste Insight Modelling for Geological Disposal Facilities, Physics and Chemistry of the Earth Vol. 64C, P1-11, 2013.

2001

M. Kelly and M.C. Thorne, An Approach to Multi-attribute Utility Analysis Under Parametric Uncertainty, Annals of Nuclear Energy 28 (2001), 875-893.

1997

M. Kelly and D.E. Billington, Scenario Analysis and Conceptual Model Development, Using FANFARE, Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXi, Volume 506, pp 702-708, 1997.