EXFOR utility codes (ForEXy) and their application to neutron fission cross section evaluation

大塚 直彦*; Devi, V.*; 岩本 修

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 225, p.111903_1 - 111903_18, 2025/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2025.111903

We developed a set of EXFOR utility codes (ForEXy) to process the information of the experimental nuclear reaction data stored in the EXFOR library. We designed a new JSON format (J4) for the EXFOR library, and developed a code converting the information in an EXFOR file to a J4 file (X4TOJ4) and another code converting it to an EXFOR file (J4TOX4) as a core part of this new code package. We also developed some other codes for management of the EXFOR storage, bibliography and dictionary. As an application of the new code package, we constructed covariance matrices for the fast neutron induced fission cross sections of neptunium-237 in the EXFOR library by using the new codes, and applied them to evaluation of the cross section between 100 keV and 200 MeV.

Influence of steam flow rate on oxidation kinetics of silicon carbide at 1400-1600 C

Pham V. H.; 倉田 正輝; 永江 勇二; 石橋 良*; 佐々木 政名*

Corrosion Science, 255, p.113098_1 - 113098_9, 2025/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2025.113098

Being expected as materials for accident tolerant fuel cladding tube, oxidation behavior and kinetics of silicon carbide (SiC) under extreme conditions like severe accidents must be elucidated. In this study, oxidation tests of SiC at 1400-1600 C for 1-5 h, at atmospheric pressure, under two different flow rates of HO/Ar gas mixture have been conducted to investigate the influence of steam flow rate on the formation of SiO scale and its subsequent volatilization. The oxidation tests were conducted via a newly developed test facility using laser as a heat source. Oxidation kinetics of SiC was evaluated via mass change of samples before and after the oxidation tests. Parabolic oxidation rate representative for SiO formation and linear volatilization rate reflecting its volatilization were calculated, based on these mass changes. The Arrhenius dependence of the parabolic oxidation and linear volatilization rate constants were then plotted. Results of this study indicated that SiC exhibits excellent performance under the conditions investigated. Steam flow rate has a significant influence on volatilization of SiO but has minor effects over its formation. Oxidation of SiC in steam at high temperature may follow mass gain or mass loss regime, depending on the steam flow rate. Two oxidation patterns were suggested and discussed. In the first oxidation pattern, the SiO formation is dominated over its volatilization. The second oxidation pattern (steady stage) is reached when the SiO formation rate is equivalent to its volatilization rate. Time to reach this steady stage was defined, based on the parabolic oxidation rate and linear volatilization rate.

High-temperature oxidation failure in reactivity-initiated accidents; An Evaluation of failure criteria based on oxygen concentration from the previous NSRR experiments

Luu, V. N.; 谷口 良徳; 宇田川 豊; 勝山 仁哉

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 442, p.114222_1 - 114222_15, 2025/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2025.114222

For near-term application, coated-Zr alloy claddings show potential for enhancing safety by providing better oxidation resistance and minimizing hydrogen absorption under design-basis accidents (DBA). This benefit could extend the burnup and operational cycles of fuel rods. In assessing safety, reactivity-initiated accidents (RIA) are considered as one of the DBA conditions. The current safety criteria for high-temperature oxidation failure, one of the failure modes linked to RIA, are defined by peak fuel enthalpy values that range from 205 to 270 cal/g. This wide variability presents challenges when attempting to generalize criteria for modified-Zr alloy claddings with superior oxidation resistance. Therefore, it may be more relevant to apply failure criteria based on embrittlement mechanisms, such as oxygen concentration in the -Zr phase. This study aimed to assess the failure based on both peak fuel enthalpy and cladding embrittlement by analyzing previous NSRR experiments conducted with conventional materials using the RANNS fuel performance code. The findings suggest that the failure criteria associated with cladding embrittlement can provide a rational evaluation of failure behavior compared to the existing criterion based on peak fuel enthalpy. The local failure criterion leading to the formation of through-wall cracks during quenching is consistent with Chung's proposal (NUREG/CR-1344): -Zr thickness of 0.9 wt% oxygen is less than 0.1 mm, and this corresponds to approximately 35% BJ-ECR.

Nuclear hydrogen demonstration project using the HTTR; Demarcation of nuclear-industrial laws and design standards

青木 健; 清水 厚志; 石井 克典; 守田 圭介; 水田 直紀; 倉林 薫; 安田 貴則; 野口 弘喜; 野本 恭信; 飯垣 和彦; et al.

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 220, p.111503_1 - 111503_7, 2025/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111503

原子力機構は、核熱により水素を製造する原子力水素製造システムの接続技術を確立するため、HTTR-熱利用試験プロジェクトを開始し、その許認可に向けた安全設計及び安全解析を行っている。本研究では、原子力水素製造システムの適用法令及び設計基準の区分の候補の優劣を評価するための相対評価手法を提案し、それをHTTR-熱利用試験施設に適用した。評価の結果、高圧ガス保安法を熱利用試験施設(水素製造施設)に適用し、高圧ガス保安法に基づく設計基準を水蒸気改質器に適用する候補は、いずれの指標においても最下位とならず、最も優れた候補として提案された。

Sharp surface tension model with pressure discontinuity and refined curvature for multiphase particle methods

Wang, Z.; 松本 俊慶; 柴本 泰照; Duan, G.*

Journal of Computational Physics, 537, p.114072_1 - 114072_29, 2025/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcp.2025.114072

In this study, we develop a novel sharp surface tension (SST) model for multiphase particle methods. Our approach integrates surface tension directly into pressure computation, enabling precise representation of pressure discontinuities across interfaces and effectively mitigating parasitic currents. In addition, to improve curvature accuracy, particularly in scenarios involving topological changes, a co-directional scheme is proposed to faithfully consider interfacial normal vectors. Furthermore, we reconstruct the interfacial particle shifting scheme to separately address tangential, normal, and repulsive components, effectively suppressing the common problem of interface particle mixing in multiphase particle methods. The effectiveness and reliability are rigorously validated through a series of numerical tests, including the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, curvature verification, droplet deformation and coalescence, as well as bubble rising and coalescence. The results demonstrate the superior accuracy and robustness of the proposed method, marking a significant advancement in simulations of multiphase flow with surface tension.

Microstructural evolution and mechanical instability of Mar-M509 superalloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion under short-term thermal exposure

Cao, T.*; Wei, D.*; Gong, W.; 川崎 卓郎; Harjo, S.; 他10名*

Materials Science and Engineering A, 940, p.148534_1 - 148534_16, 2025/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2025.148534

The thermal stability of microstructure and mechanical performance is crucial for the industrial application of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) superalloy components in gas turbines and jet engines. This work investigated the microstructural evolution and strengthening mechanism of LPBF Mar-M509 cobalt-based superalloy before and after thermal exposure at 1200 C using multi-scale microstructural characterization and in situ neutron diffraction tensile testing. The as-built Mar-M509 superalloy exhibited a heterogeneous microstructural features with coarse columnar and fine equiaxed grains, both containing dendritic and cellular substructures enriched with nanoscale carbides and high-density dislocations. The ultra high strength of the as-built sample was primarily attributed to dislocation-precipitation synergistic strengthening. After thermal exposure at 1200 C for 4 h, the dendritic and cellular substructures disappeared and the dislocation density decreased significantly. This study reveals the microstructural evolution and instability of LPBF Mar-M509 superalloy under high-temperature exposure and the impacts on mechanical properties, which provides critical support for the development of cobalt-based superalloys in high-temperature application fields.

Modeling the extraction of bound rubber from silica-filled styrene-butadiene rubber with toluene

田村 由起子*; 荒川 勝利*; 竹中 幹人*; 中西 洋平*; 藤波 想*; 柴田 基樹*; 山本 勝宏*; 宮田 登*; 山田 雅子*; 瀬戸 秀紀*; et al.

Polymer, 333, p.128662_1 - 128662_8, 2025/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2025.128662

To investigate the relationship between the mechanical properties of silica-filled styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and the amount of bound rubber at the filler/rubber interface, the polymer matrix was extracted from silica-filled SBR using toluene at room temperature. In this study, this extraction process was reproduced by leaching a thermally annealed SBR layer deposited on a Si substrate in toluene at room temperature, where the adsorption layer of the SBR was grown at the interface with the substrate by thermal annealing. The SBR adsorption layer on the Si substrate has two-layer structures consisting of an inner and outer adsorption layers, which correspond to the tightly and loosely bound rubbers on the filler surface of the silica-filled SBR, respectively. For the sample annealed for less than 6 h, the outer adsorption layer, loosely bound to the substrate, was easily leached in toluene for 5 min, leaving only the inner adsorption layer on the substrate. For the samples annealed for more than 24 h, a large portion of the outer adsorption layer remained on top of the inner adsorption layer as a terrace structure. However, even for the sample annealed for 24 h, treating with toluene for 24 h completely leached the outer adsorption layer from the inner adsorption layer, although the inner adsorption layer remained on the substrate. It was found that the loosely bound rubber in the silica-filled SBR could be easily extracted from the filler surface, along with the free polymer chains in the polymer matrix during extraction with toluene at room temperature. In contrast, the tightly bound rubber was not leached by toluene at room temperature. This may be because the interfacial polymer chains within approximately 1 nm of the substrate surface were strongly constrained to the substrate, and even toluene molecules were excluded.

化学計測技術とインフォマティックスを融合したデブリ性状把握手法の開発とタイアップ型人材育成(委託研究); 令和5年度英知を結集した原子力科学技術・人材育成推進事業

廃炉環境国際共同研究センター; 福島大学*

JAEA-Review 2025-002, 108 Pages, 2025/07

JAEA-Review-2025-002.pdf:5.25MB

日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA)廃炉環境国際共同研究センター(CLADS)では、令和5年度英知を結集した原子力科学技術・人材育成推進事業(以下、「本事業」という。)を実施している。本事業は、東京電力ホールディングス株式会社福島第一原子力発電所の廃炉等をはじめとした原子力分野の課題解決に貢献するため、国内外の英知を結集し、様々な分野の知見や経験を、従前の機関や分野の壁を越えて緊密に融合・連携させた基礎的・基盤的研究及び人材育成を推進することを目的としている。平成30年度の新規採択課題から実施主体を文部科学省からJAEAに移行することで、JAEAとアカデミアとの連携を強化し、廃炉に資する中長期的な研究開発・人材育成をより安定的かつ継続的に実施する体制を構築した。本研究は、令和元年度に採択された研究課題のうち、「化学計測技術とインフォマティックスを融合したデブリ性状把握手法の開発とタイアップ型人材育成」の令和元年度から令和5年度分の研究成果について取りまとめたものである。本研究は、新しい化学分析法の構築によるインフォマティックスとの融合技術の実現を目指し、少ない情報量で全体像を推定するシステムの開発を実施することを目的とする。JAEA研究者とのタイアップ方式による研究を実施することで、博士前期課程ポスドクまでの研究者の地域実践型の深化する横断的な人材育成を行うとともに、国際感覚豊かな人材の育成を目指し、実施した。

Integrated thermal power measurement in the modified STACY for the performance inspections

荒木 祥平; 會澤 栄寿; 村上 貴彦; 新垣 優; 多田 裕太; 神川 豊; 長谷川 健太; 吉川 智輝; 住谷 正人; 関 真和; et al.

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 217, p.111323_1 - 111323_8, 2025/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111323

原子力機構では、臨界集合体STACYを均質溶液体系から非均質軽水減速体系へと更新した。STACY更新炉においても最大熱出力は200Wと定められており、熱出力校正は運転を行う上で重要である。熱出力測定においては、溶液系STACYで用いていたFPの分析による熱出力の評価が適応できなかったため、放射化法をベースとする実験データと数値計算を組み合わせて出力を評価する手法をSTACY更新炉の体系に適応し、測定を実施した。測定データを基に出力校正を実施した結果、校正後の指示値は放射化法による測定結果と3%以内で一致した。

Experimental and modeling studies on the oxygen ingression behavior at the crevices of stainless steels in high-temperature water

相馬 康孝; 小松 篤史; 加治 芳行; 山本 正弘*; 五十嵐 誉廣

Corrosion Science, 251, p.112897_1 - 112897_15, 2025/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2025.112897

高温水中(288C)におけるステンレス鋼のすき間内部への酸素侵入に関する実験およびモデリング研究を実施した。すき間内への酸素侵入の限界距離は、酸素濃度、すき間幅、浸漬時間に関わらず、すき間開口部からの距離dがそれ以上の数値になる場合、主要表面酸化物組成が(ヘマタイトマグネタイトに)変化する位置として定義することができた。その場測定により、付近での電気伝導度の増加が確認され、これは酸素濃度差電池によるイオン濃縮を示した。は、すき間幅、酸素濃度、浸漬時間の増加に伴って拡大した。モデル計算の結果、酸化膜の成長によってステンレス鋼金属のアノード溶解が抑制され、対応する酸素のカソード還元消費速度が低下することで、時間とともに酸素の侵入が進行することが示唆された。