Mesospheric ionization during substorm growth phase

Murase, Kiyoka*; Kataoka, Ryuho*; Nishiyama, Takanori*; Nishimura, Koji*; Hashimoto, Taishi*; Tanaka, Yoshimasa*; Kadokura, Akira*; Tomikawa, Yoshihiro*; Tsutsumi, Masaki*; Ogawa, Yasunobu*; et al.

Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate (Internet), 12, p.18_1 - 18_16, 2022/06

https://doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2022012

We identified two energetic electron precipitation (EEP) events during the growth phase of moderate substorms and estimated the mesospheric ionization rate for an EEP event for which the most comprehensive dataset from ground-based and space-born instruments was available. The mesospheric ionization signature reached below 70 km altitude and continued for ~15 min until the substorm onset, as observed by the PANSY radar and imaging riometer at Syowa Station in the Antarctic region. We also used energetic electron flux observed by the Arase and POES 15 satellites as the input for the air-shower simulation code PHITS to quantitatively estimate the mesospheric ionization rate. Combining the cutting-edge observations and simulations, we shed new light on the space weather impact of the EEP events during geomagnetically quiet times, which is important to understand the possible link between the space environment and climate.

Ion-induced irradiation hardening of the weld heat-affected zone in low alloy steel

Ha, Yoosung; Takamizawa, Hisashi; Katsuyama, Jinya; Hanawa, Satoshi; Nishiyama, Yutaka

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 461, p.276 - 282, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2019.10.018

Confirmation tests for Warm Pre-stress (WPS) effect in reactor pressure vessel steel (Contract research)

Chimi, Yasuhiro; Iwata, Keiko; Tobita, Toru; Otsu, Takuyo; Takamizawa, Hisashi; Yoshimoto, Kentaro*; Murakami, Takeshi*; Hanawa, Satoshi; Nishiyama, Yutaka

JAEA-Research 2017-018, 122 Pages, 2018/03

JAEA-Research-2017-018.pdf:44.03MB

Warm pre-stress (WPS) effect is a phenomenon that after applying a load at a high temperature fracture does not occur in unloading during cooling, and then the fracture toughness in reloading at a lower temperature increases effectively. Engineering evaluation models to predict an apparent fracture toughness in reloading are established using experimental data with linear elasticity. However, there is a lack of data on the WPS effect for the effects of specimen size and surface crack in elastic-plastic regime. In this study, fracture toughness tests were performed after applying load-temperature histories which simulate pressurized thermal shock transients to confirm the WPS effect. The experimental results of an apparent fracture toughness tend to be lower than the predictive results using the engineering evaluation models in the case of a high degree of plastic deformation in preloading. Considering the plastic component of preloading can refine the engineering evaluation models.

A Modelling study on water radiolysis for primary coolant in PWR

Mukai, Satoru*; Umehara, Ryuji*; Hanawa, Satoshi; Kasahara, Shigeki; Nishiyama, Yutaka

Proceedings of 20th International Conference on Water Chemistry of Nuclear Reactor Systems (NPC 2016) (USB Flash Drive), 9 Pages, 2016/10

In Japanese PWR, the concentration of dissolved hydrogen in the primary coolant is controlled in the range from 25 cc/kg-HO to 35 cc/kg-HO for suppression of water decomposition. However this concentration is desired to reduce for the purpose of radiation source reduction in Japan. So, the concentration due to water radiolysis in primary coolant was evaluated at lower hydrogen concentration by the water radiolysis model in consideration of ray, fast neutron and alpha ray due to the reaction B(n,)Li. The results of evaluation showed that the water radiolysis was suppressed even if the hydrogen concentration was decreased to 5 cc/kg-HO. The effects of the different G-value and the rate constants of major reaction on the concentration of HO and O were studied under hydrogen addition. We also focused on the effect of the alpha radiolysis in boron acid water.

Study of irradiation effect on ECP using in-pile loops in the JMTR

Hanawa, Satoshi; Uchida, Shunsuke; Hata, Kuniki; Chimi, Yasuhiro; Kasahara, Shigeki*; Nishiyama, Yutaka

Proceedings of 20th Nuclear Plant Chemistry International Conference (NPC 2016) (USB Flash Drive), 10 Pages, 2016/10

The authors proposed and ECP evaluation model introducing irradiation-induced diffusion in the oxide layer to simulate neutron irradiation effect, and predicted with this model that ECP is started to depress from the neutron flux of about ten to the fourteenth per square meter. As the JMTR has in-pile loops applicable to water chemistry experiments, degree of irradiation effect on ECP appears in the in-pile loop was estimated by the model. Under oxygen injected condition, ECP in a capsule becomes constant along the vertical direction due to the presence of high amount of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide in a capsule. However, if neutron irradiation depress ECP, ECP in a capsule along vertical direction wouldn't become constant, and the degree to the decrement is detectable by experiments.

Zirconia membrane ECP electrode for water chemistry experiments in the JMTR

Hanawa, Satoshi; Hata, Kuniki; Shibata, Akira; Chimi, Yasuhiro; Kasahara, Shigeki; Tsutsui, Nobuyuki*; Iwase, Akihiro*; Nishiyama, Yutaka

Proceedings of 2014 Nuclear Plant Chemistry Conference (NPC 2014) (USB Flash Drive), 9 Pages, 2014/10

no abstracts in English

Determination of electrochemical corrosion potential along the JMTR in-pile loop, 1; Evaluation of ECP of stainless steel in high-temperature water as a function of oxidant concentrations and exposure time

Uchida, Shunsuke; Hanawa, Satoshi; Nishiyama, Yutaka; Nakamura, Takehiko; Sato, Tomonori; Tsukada, Takashi; Kysela, J.*

Nuclear Technology, 183(1), p.119 - 135, 2013/07

https://doi.org/10.13182/NT13-A16997

In-pile loop experiments are one of the key technologies which can provide an understanding of corrosion behaviors of structural materials in nuclear power plants (NPPs). The experiments should be supported not only by reliable measurement tools to confirm corrosive conditions under neutron and ray irradiations but also by theoretical models for extrapolating the measured data to predict corrosion behaviors in NPPs. The relationships among electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP), metal surface conditions, exposure time and other environmental conditions have been determined from in situ measurements of corrosion behaviors of stainless steel specimens exposed to HO and O in high temperature water. Based on the relationships, a model to evaluate ECP of stainless steel was developed by coupling an electrochemical model and a double oxide layer model. Major conclusions obtained from the evaluation model are as follows. (1) The difference in ECP behaviors of the specimens exposed to HO and O were mainly from the thickness and developing rate of the inner oxide layers. (2) Calculated ECP behaviors, e.g., the different responses to HO and O and hysteresis and memory effects, agreed with the measured ones. (3) Neutron exposure might decrease ECP due to radiation-induced diffusion in the oxide layer. The ECP evaluation model will be applied to evaluation of corrosive conditions in the JMTR in-pile loop.

J-PARC decay muon channel construction status

Strasser, P.*; Shimomura, Koichiro*; Koda, Akihiro*; Kawamura, Naritoshi*; Fujimori, Hiroshi*; Makimura, Shunsuke*; Kobayashi, Yasuo*; Nakahara, Kazutaka*; Kato, Mineo*; Takeshita, Soshi*; et al.

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 225, p.012050_1 - 012050_8, 2010/06

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/225/1/012050

Study on permeability characteristics of rock discontinuities under shear deformation using lattice-gas automaton method

Nishiyama, Satoshi*; Onishi, Yuzo*; Sawada, Atsushi; Yano, Takao*

Doboku Gakkai Rombunshu, C, 65(4), p.776 - 788, 2009/10

https://doi.org/10.2208/jscejc.65.776

This paper describes the simulation method to explain the mechanism of the permeability characteristics of specimens with single discontinuties under shear through shear-flow coupling tests, showing that on the shear stress-displacement curve obtained by the constant normal load testing, the water flowing through the discontinuties have different transmissibility-aperture width relation before or after the yield range. As a technique to serve this purpose, the lattice gas method, which is to substitute the fluid with particles and repeat letting them collide. With this technique, the factors of surface structure of discontinuties that determine the shear/permeability characteristics are identified.

Muon spin rotation study of magnetism in multilayer HgBaCaCuO superconductor

Tokiwa, Kazuyasu*; Mikusu, Satoshi*; Higemoto, Wataru; Nishiyama, Kusuo*; Iyo, Akira*; Tanaka, Yasumoto*; Kotegawa, Hisashi*; Mukuda, Hidekazu*; Kitaoka, Yoshio*; Watanabe, Tsuneo*

Physica C, 460-462(2), p.892 - 895, 2007/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physc.2007.03.187

Zero- and longitudinal-field muon-spin rotation (ZF-SR and LF-SR) measurements were carried out on a multi-layered HgBaCaCuO (Hg-1245) superconductor with of 108 K. With decreasing temperature, the observed ZF-SR function changed from a Gaussian-type to an exponential-type below 60 K and zero field muon precession was also observed below 45 K. These SR signals are attributed to the development of the antiferromagnetic ordering in inner CuOplanes with a low carrier concentration. These results seem to indicate clear evidence that antiferromagnetism microscopically coexists with superconductivity in the Hg-1245 superconductor below 60 K.