The intent of this paper is to establish the groundwork for additional research into applying nuclear-based materials for space exploration, and attempt to link computational simulations of material exposure to fusion environments with analytical and empirical-based testing of structural and shielding components in a comprehensive, multiphysics scheme. While a special emphasis is placed on the effects of neutron activation and developing a cohesive model that links computational approaches to analytical and empirical tests (especially those used in linear-elastic fracture mechanics and nonlinear approaches), this report will also examine the effects of other sources of damage such as erosion and ablation of electrode structures, which also contribute to reducing component lifetime. Nomenclature A= atomic number α = incident angle B, B 0 = creep compliance b = fatigue strength exponent C 0 = swelling-enhanced creep coefficient c S = solid phase heat capacity D = creep rate ε = material constant derived from the energy needed to remove a unit volume of material ε A = material strain ε' f = fatigue ductility coefficient I = fusion yield scaling coefficient I s = material constant for stress-to-rupture calculations K = particle's vertical velocity component normal to the surface k, k s = thermal conductivity k l , k v = thermal ablation material parameters M = mass of particle N f = number of cycles to failure q = heat flux q * = melting threshold factor φ = material constant relating to the average depth of impact R = Helium to dpa ratio ρ s = density of solid phase S R = Parameter relating rupture stress to time σ = electrical conductivity σ' f = fatigue strength coefficient T mp = melting temperature V = particle velocity V e = volumetric loss W = volume of material lost