Measurements of thermal-hydraulic-mechanical (THM) behavior in the engineered barrier system (EBS) and surrounding rock during the in-situ experiment for performance confirmation of EBS

Ozaki, Yusuke; Ono, Hirokazu; Aoyagi, Kazuhei

Shigen, Sozai Koenshu (Internet), 6 Pages, 2023/09

In the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory, the in-situ experiment for performance confirmation of engineered barrier system was performed at the 350 m stage to develop the technology for geological disposal. Several measurements have been conducted in and around the test drift to investigate the time dependent impact of the experiment on the rock and backfilled tunnel. Some measurement results are introduced in this presentation.

Thermally altered subsurface material of asteroid (162173) Ryugu

Kitazato, Kohei*; Milliken, R. E.*; Iwata, Takahiro*; Abe, Masanao*; Otake, Makiko*; Matsuura, Shuji*; Takagi, Yasuhiko*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Hiroi, Takahiro*; Matsuoka, Moe*; et al.

Nature Astronomy (Internet), 5(3), p.246 - 250, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-01271-2

Here we report observations of Ryugu's subsurface material by the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. Reflectance spectra of excavated material exhibit a hydroxyl (OH) absorption feature that is slightly stronger and peak-shifted compared with that observed for the surface, indicating that space weathering and/or radiative heating have caused subtle spectral changes in the uppermost surface. However, the strength and shape of the OH feature still suggests that the subsurface material experienced heating above 300 C, similar to the surface. In contrast, thermophysical modeling indicates that radiative heating does not increase the temperature above 200 C at the estimated excavation depth of 1 m, even if the semimajor axis is reduced to 0.344 au. This supports the hypothesis that primary thermal alteration occurred due to radiogenic and/or impact heating on Ryugu's parent body.

In-core SCC growth behavior of type 304 stainless steel in BWR simulated high-temperature water at JMTR

Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Ugachi, Hirokazu; Tsukada, Takashi; Nakano, Junichi; Matsui, Yoshinori; Kawamata, Kazuo; Shibata, Akira; Omi, Masao; Nagata, Nobuaki*; Dozaki, Koji*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 45(8), p.725 - 734, 2008/08

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.45.725

Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is one of the critical concerns when stainless steel components have been in service in light water reactors for a long period. In-core IASCC growth tests have been carried out using the compact tension type specimens of type 304 stainless steel that had been pre-irradiated up to a neutron fluence level around 110n/m in pure water simulated boiling water reactor (BWR) coolant condition at the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR). In order to investigate the effect of synergy of neutron/ radiation and stress/water environment on IASCC growth rate, we performed ex-core IASCC tests on irradiated specimens at several dissolved oxygen contents environments under the same electrochemical potential condition. In this paper, results of the in-core SCC growth tests will be discussed and compared with the result obtained by ex-core tests from a viewpoint of the synergistic effects on IASCC.

Comparison of SCC growth rate between in-core and EX-core tests in BWR simulated high temperature water

Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Ugachi, Hirokazu; Tsukada, Takashi; Matsui, Yoshinori; Omi, Masao; Nagata, Nobuaki*; Dozaki, Koji*; Takiguchi, Hideki*

Proceedings of 13th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems (CD-ROM), 12 Pages, 2007/00

Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is one of the critical concerns when stainless steel components have been in service in light water reactors for a long period. In-core IASCC growth tests have been carried out using the compact tension type specimens of type 304 stainless steel that had been pre-irradiated up to a neutron fluence level around 110n/m in pure water simulated boiling water reactor (BWR) coolant condition at the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR). In order to investigate the effect of synergy of neutron/ radiation and stress/water environment on SCC growth rate, we performed post irradiation examinations (PIEs) in the several dissolved oxygen contents or hydrogen peroxide added environments under the same electrochemical potential condition. In this paper, results of the in-core SCC growth tests will be discussed comparing with the result obtained by PIEs from a viewpoint of the synergistic effects on IASCC.

In-pile SCC growth behavior of type 304 stainless steel in high temperature water at JMTR

Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Ugachi, Hirokazu; Tsukada, Takashi; Matsui, Yoshinori; Omi, Masao; Nagata, Nobuaki*; Dozaki, Koji*; Takiguchi, Hideki*

Proceedings of 14th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-14) (CD-ROM), 7 Pages, 2006/07

Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is one of the critical concerns when stainless steel components have been in service in light water reactors (LWRs) for a long period. In general, IASCC can be reproduced on the materials irradiated over a certain threshold fluence level of fast neutron by the post-irradiation examinations (PIEs). In the research field of IASCC, mainly PIEs for irradiated materials have been carried out, because there are many difficulties on SCC tests under neutron irradiation. Hence we have embarked on a development of the test technique to obtain information concerning effects of applied stress level, water chemistry, irradiation conditions, etc. In-pile IASCC growth tests have been successfully carried out using pre-irradiated type 304 stainless steel at JMTR. In the paper, results of the in-pile SCC growth tests will be discussed comparing with the result obtained by PIEs from a viewpoint of the synergistic effects on IASCC.

In-pile SCC initiation and growth testing at JMTR

Tsukada, Takashi; Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Ugachi, Hirokazu; Nagata, Nobuaki*; Dozaki, Koji*; Takiguchi, Hideki*

Proceedings of Symposium on Water Chemistry and Corrosion of Nuclear Power Plants in Asia, 2005 (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2005/10

Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is one of the significant concerns for the in-vessel stainless steel components of the aged light water reactors (LWRs). In general, IASCC can be reproduced on the materials irradiated over a certain threshold fluence level of fast neutron by the post-irradiation examinations (PIEs). It is, however, considered that the reproduced IASCC by PIEs must be carefully compared with the actual IASCC in nuclear power plants, because the actual IASCC occurs in the core under simultaneous effects of radiation, stress and high temperature water environment. Therefore, to confirm the effect of synergy, we have started to develop the test technique to carry out the in-pile IASCC tests at JMTR, Japan Materials Testing Reactor. In this paper, we describe the developed several techniques, especially control of loading on specimens, monitoring technique of crack initiation/growth and a result of mock-up in-pile SCC tests using thermally sensitized specimens.

In-core ECP sensor designed for the IASCC experiments at JMTR

Tsukada, Takashi; Miwa, Yukio; Ugachi, Hirokazu; Matsui, Yoshinori; Itabashi, Yukio; Nagata, Nobuaki*; Dozaki, Koji*

Proceedings of International Conference on Water Chemistry of Nuclear Reactor Systems (CD-ROM), 5 Pages, 2004/10

IASCC initiation and propagation tests will be performed on the per-irradiated specimen in the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR). Since in core, the radiolysis of water causes a generation of various kind of radical species and some oxidizing species such as hydrogen peroxide, the water chemistry in irradiation capsules must be assessed by measurements of the electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP). For the in-core measurement of ECP in JMTR, we fabricated and tested the Fe/FeO type ECP sensor. After the fabrication, the function of each sensor was examined in high temperature water by out-of-core thermal cycling and high temperature holding tests.

Fabrication of saturated temperature capsule for IASCC study

Ishikawa, Kazuyoshi; Kikuchi, Taiji; Isozaki, Futoshi*; Inoue, Hiromi; Oba, Toshihiro; Matsui, Yoshinori; Saito, Takashi; Nakano, Junichi; Tsuji, Hirokazu

JAERI-Tech 2002-061, 69 Pages, 2002/08

JAERI-Tech-2002-061.pdf:12.21MB

Study of irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is an important subject for the plant life assessment and extension of the light water reactors (LWRs). It is necessary that initiation mechanism of IASCC should be made clear under combined effect of irradiation, environment and stress in order to understand IASCC phenomena. Under the existing circumstance, Saturated Temperature Capsule (SATCAP) were fabricated for the irradiation test of IASCC studies in Japan Material Testing Reactor (JMTR). SATCAP is the irradiation rig to irradiate materials in high pressure water of controlled chemistry and temperature simulating Boiling water reactors (BWRs) core environment from the new water feelding system of out-of-pile. This report describes (1) investigation of technical problems for the design and fabrication of SATCAP, (2) the tests results of the problems and (3) fabrication and inspection of SATCAP.

In-pile IASCC study in Japan Materials Testing Reactor, 2

Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Ugachi, Hirokazu; Matsui, Yoshinori; Tsukada, Takashi; Nagata, Nobuaki*; Dozaki, Koji*; Takiguchi, Hideki*

no journal, , 

Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is one of the critical concerns of in-core structural materials for light water reactors. In general, IASCC can be reproduced on the materials irradiated over a certain threshold fluence level of fast neutron by the post-irradiation examinations (PIEs). It is, however, considered that the reproduced IASCC by PIEs must be carefully compared with the actual IASCC in nuclear power plants, because the actual IASCC occurs in the core under simultaneous effects of radiation, stress and high temperature water environment. In this study, we conducted in-pile SCC growth tests in pure water simulated boiling water reactor (BWR) coolant condition and discussed comparing with the results obtained by PIEs from a viewpoint of the synergistic effects on IASCC.

Investigation of crack initiation behavior using pre-irradiated austenitic stainless steel at JMTR

Tsukada, Takashi; Ugachi, Hirokazu; Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Miwa, Yukio; Nakano, Junichi; Matsui, Yoshinori; Endo, Shinya; Kato, Yoshiaki; Nagata, Nobuaki*; Dozaki, Koji*; et al.

no journal, , 

Irradiation Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking (IASCC) has been regarded in recent years as the matter that is related to the reliability for core components of LWRs. The in-pile IASCC initiation tests were performed using of uniaxial constant load specimens pre-irradiated to about 510n/m and 110n/m at JMTR under the simulated BWR core condition. From the results of in-pile and out-of-pile tests of the irradiated specimens, we confirmed that any remarkable acceleration effect of synergy of neutron/ radiation and stress/water environment on SCC initiation results was not observed under the test condition of this study. On the surface of in-pile test specimen, a micro crack was observed on the surface of specimen, and it was considered to be an initiation of SCC besed on the results of out-of-pile experiments.