Numerical simulation of coupled THM behaviour of full-scale EBS in backfilled experimental gallery in the Horonobe URL

Sugita, Yutaka; Ono, Hirokazu; Beese, S.*; Pan, P.*; Kim, M.*; Lee, C.*; Jove-Colon, C.*; Lopez, C. M.*; Liang, S.-Y.*

Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 42, p.100668_1 - 100668_21, 2025/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2025.100668

The international cooperative project DECOVALEX 2023 focused on the Horonobe EBS experiment in the Task D, which was undertaken to study, using numerical analyses, the thermo-hydro-mechanical (or thermo-hydro) interactions in bentonite based engineered barriers. One full-scale in-situ experiment and four laboratory experiments, largely complementary, were selected for modelling. The Horonobe EBS experiment is a temperature-controlled non-isothermal experiment combined with artificial groundwater injection. The Horonobe EBS experiment consists of the heating and cooling phases. Six research teams performed the THM or TH (depended on research team approach) numerical analyses using a variety of computer codes, formulations and constitutive laws.

Comparative analysis of primary variables selection in modeling non-isothermal two-phase flow; Insights from EBS experiment at Horonobe URL

Kim, M.*; Lee, C.*; Sugita, Yutaka; Kim, J.-S.*; Jeon, M.-K.*

Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 41, p.100628_1 - 100628_9, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2024.100628

This study investigates the impact of primary variables selection on the modeling of non-isothermal two-phase flow, by using the numerical work on the full-scale Engineered Barrier System (EBS) experiment conducted at Horonobe URL as part of the DECOVALEX-2023 project. A validated numerical model is employed to simulate the coupled thermo-hydrological behavior of heterogeneous porous media within the EBS. Two different primary variable schemes are compared in discretizing the governing equations, revealing significant difference in results.

Tetrahedral triple-Q magnetic ordering and large spontaneous Hall conductivity in the metallic triangular antiferromagnet CoTaS

Park, P.*; Cho, W.*; Kim, C.*; An, Y.*; Kang, Y.-G.*; Avdeev, M.*; Sibille, R.*; Iida, Kazuki*; Kajimoto, Ryoichi; Lee, K. H.*; et al.

Nature Communications (Internet), 14, p.8346_1 - 8346_9, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43853-4

Fetal atomic bomb survivor dosimetry using the J45 series of pregnant female phantoms with realistic survivor exposure scenarios; Comparisons to dose estimates in the DS02 system

Paulbeck, C. J.*; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Funamoto, Sachiyo*; Lee, C.*; Griffin, K. T.*; Cullings, H. M.*; Egbert, S. D.*; Endo, Akira; Hertel, N. E.*; Bolch, W. E.*

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 62(3), p.317 - 329, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-023-01032-5

In our prior study [Radiat Res 192, 538-561 (2019)], we presented a new J45 (Japanese 1945) series of high-resolution phantoms of the adult pregnant female at 8-week, 15-week, 25-week, and 38-week post-conception. In this present study, we extend this work using realistic angular fluences from the DS02 system for up to nine different radiation categories and five shielding conditions. General findings are that the current DS02 fetal dose surrogate overestimates values of fetal organ dose seen in the J45 phantoms towards the cranial end of the fetus, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. This work supports our previous findings that the J45 pregnant female phantom series offers significate opportunities for gestational age-dependent assessment of fetal organ dose without the need to invoke the uterine wall as a fetal organ surrogate.

Competitive strengthening between dislocation slip and twinning in cast-wrought and additively manufactured CrCoNi medium entropy alloys

Woo, W.*; Kim, Y. S.*; Chae, H. B.*; Lee, S. Y.*; Jeong, J. S.*; Lee, C. M.*; Won, J. W.*; Na, Y. S.*; Kawasaki, Takuro; Harjo, S.; et al.

Acta Materialia, 246, p.118699_1 - 118699_13, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2023.118699

Nonlinear magnon polaritons

Lee, O.*; Yamamoto, Kei; Umeda, Maki; Zollitsch, C. W.*; Elyasi, M.*; Kikkawa, Takashi*; Saito, Eiji; Bauer, G. E. W.*; Kurebayashi, Hidekazu*

Physical Review Letters, 130(4), p.046703_1 - 046703_6, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.046703

Selective recovery of thorium and uranium from leach solutions of rare earth concentrates in continuous solvent extraction mode with primary amine N1923

Nguyen, T. H.*; Le Ba, T.*; Tran, C. T.*; Nguyen, T. T.*; Doan, T. T. T.*; Do, V. K.; Watanabe, Masayuki; Pham, Q. M.*; Hoang, S. T.*; Nguyen, D. V.*; et al.

Hydrometallurgy, 213, p.105933_1 - 105933_11, 2022/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2022.105933

A continuous counter-current extraction for the selective recovery of thorium (Th) and uranium (U) from the Yen Phu (Vietnam) rare earth concentrate leach solutions was systematically studied. The primary amine N1923 was used as an extractant which was prepared in the isoparaffin IP-2028 diluent. Thorium and uranium were selectively recovered in a hydrometallurgical circuit established by continuous mixer-settler extraction, scrubbing, and back-extraction at the laboratory scale. The desired purity of Th and U can be achieved by managing the volume ratio of organic to aqueous phase (O/A ratio) in the corresponding steps. Highly pure Th and U were recovered from the pregnant back-extraction liquor and the raffinate, respectively, which have satisfactory properties for further processing of the subsequent nuclear materials.

Japanese pediatric and adult atomic bomb survivor dosimetry; Potential improvements using the J45 phantom series and modern Monte Carlo transport

Griffin, K. T.*; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Funamoto, Sachiyo*; Chizhov, K.*; Domal, S.*; Paulbeck, C.*; Bolch, W.*; Cullings, H. M.*; Egbert, S. D.*; Endo, Akira; et al.

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 61(1), p.73 - 86, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-021-00946-2

To evaluate the potential dosimetry improvements that would arise from their use in a Dosimetry System (DS) at RERF, we have evaluated organ doses in the J45 series using the environmental fluence data for twenty generalized survivor scenarios pulled directly from the current DS. The energy- and angle-dependent gamma and neutron fluences were converted to a phase space source term for use in MCNP6, a modern radiation transport code. Overall, the updated phantom series would be expected to provide dose improvements to several important organs, including the active marrow, colon, and stomach wall (up to 20%, 20%, and 15% impact on total dose, respectively). The impacts on dosimetry were especially significant for neutron dose estimates (up to a two-fold difference) and within organs which were unavailable in the previous phantom series, such as the skin, esophagus, and prostate.

Tensile response of as-cast CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloys

Lam, T.-N.*; Luo, M.-Y.*; Kawasaki, Takuro; Harjo, S.; Jain, J.*; Lee, S.-Y.*; Yeh, A.-C.*; Huang, E.-W.*

Crystals (Internet), 12(2), p.157_1 - 157_9, 2022/02

https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12020157

HM and THM interactions in bentonite engineered barriers for nuclear waste disposal

Gens, A.*; Alcoverro, J.*; Blaheta, R.*; Hasal, M.*; Michalec, Z.*; Takayama, Yusuke; Lee, C.*; Lee, J.*; Kim, G. Y.*; Kuo, C.-W.*; et al.

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 137, p.104572_1 - 104572_19, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104572

Bentonite-based engineered barriers are a key component of many repository designs for the confinement of high-level radioactive waste and spent fuel. Given the complexity and interaction of the phenomena affecting the barrier, coupled hydro-mechanical (HM) and thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) numerical analyses are a potentially useful tool for a better understanding of their behaviour. In this context, a Task (INBEB) was undertaken to study, using numerical analyses, the hydro-mechanical and thermohydro-mechanical Interactions in Bentonite Engineered Barriers within the international cooperative project DECOVALEX 2019. Two large scale tests, largely complementary, were selected for modelling: EB and FEBEX. The EB experiment was carried out under isothermal conditions and artificial hydration and it was dismantled after 10.7 years. The FEBEX test was a temperature-controlled non-isothermal test combined with natural hydration that underwent two dismantling operations, a partial one after 5 years of heating and a final one after a total of 18.4 years of heating. Direct observation of the state of the barriers was possible during the dismantling operations. Four teams performed the HM and THM numerical analyses using a variety of computer codes, formulations and constitutive laws. For each experiment, the basic features of the analyses are described and the comparison between calculations and field observations are presented and discussed. Comparisons involve measurements performed during the performance of the test and data gathered during dismantling. A final evaluation of the performance of the modelling closes the paper.