Ultrasonic analysis of columnar crystal propagation echo in acoustically anisotropic weld metals; Targeting intergranular cracking of stainless-steel piping in pressurized water reactor primary system "FY2024 Nuclear Regulation Research Technology Infrastructure Construction Project Subsidy 'The Grant to Establish Technology Bases for Enhancement of Nuclear Regulation Research'"

Matsui, Tetsuya; Shimodaira, Masaki; Yamaguchi, Yoshihito; Toyama, Takeshi; Katsuyama, Jinya

JAEA-Research 2025-017, 41 Pages, 2026/03

JAEA-Research-2025-017.pdf:4.52MB

The JAEA Safety Research Center has been conducting fundamental research on advanced inspection and structural integrity assessment technologies since FY2024, including the development of a machine-learning-based ultrasonic flaw detection method using an ultrasonic simulator. To assess the simulator's applicability, phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) results produced by the simulator were compared with actual measurement data. Due to limited publicly available datasets, an intergranular crack in the pressurizer spray line piping of Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc.'s Ohi Nuclear Power Station Unit 3 was selected as the reference case. PAUT linear scanning analysis at a 45 incident angle detected the crack's corner and edge echoes. Strong columnar-crystal propagation echoes were also observed within the weld metal, with their intensity showing dependence on the symmetric axis angle. Analysis at a 31 incident angle similarly identified strong columnar-crystal propagation echoes, which connected to the crack's corner echoes and propagated into the weld region. These results align with actual measurements, indicating that the observed weld-metal echoes are likely attributable to columnar-crystal propagation.

Oxide particles in oxide dispersion strengthened steel neutron-irradiated up to 158 dpa at Joyo

Toyama, Takeshi*; Tanno, Takashi; Yano, Yasuhide; Inoue, Koji*; Nagai, Yasuyoshi*; Otsuka, Satoshi; Miyazawa, Takeshi; Mitsuhara, Masatoshi*; Nakashima, Hideharu*; Onuma, Masato*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 599, p.155252_1 - 155252_14, 2024/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.155252

We investigated the stability of oxide nano particles in oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) steel, which is a promising candidate material for next-generation reactors, under neutron irradiation at high temperature to high doses. MA957, a 14Cr-ODS steel, was irradiated with Joyo in Japan Atomic Energy Agency under irradiation conditions of 130 dpa at 502C, 154 dpa at 589C, and 158 dpa at 709C. Three-dimensional atom probe (3D-AP) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation were performed to characterize the oxide particles in the ODS steels. A high number density of Y-Ti-O particle was observed in the unirradiated and irradiated samples. Almost no change in the morphology of the oxide particles, i.e. average diameter, number density, and chemical composition, has been observed in the samples irradiated to 130 dpa at 502C and to 154 dpa at 589C. A slight decrease in number density was observed in the sample irradiated to 158 dpa at 709CC. The hardness of any of the irradiated samples was almost unchanged from that of the unirradiated sample. It was revealed that the oxide particles existed stable, and the strength of the material was sufficiently maintained even after being neutron irradiated to high dose of 160 dpa at high temperature up to 700C. A part of this study includes the results of MEXT Innovative Nuclear Research and Development Program Grant Number JPMXD0219214482.

Creep deformation and rupture behavior of 9Cr-ODS steel cladding tube at high temperatures from 700C to 1000C

Imagawa, Yuya; Hashidate, Ryuta; Miyazawa, Takeshi; Onizawa, Takashi; Otsuka, Satoshi; Yano, Yasuhide; Tanno, Takashi; Kaito, Takeji; Onuma, Masato*; Mitsuhara, Masatoshi*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 61(6), p.762 - 777, 2024/06

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2269178

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been developing 9Cr-oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steel as a fuel cladding material for sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). Previous studies have formulated the creep rupture equation for 650C to 850C. However, little data have been obtained above 850C, and no equation has been formulated. This study conducted creep tests to evaluate creep strength at 700C to 1000C. Two creep test methods, the internal pressure and ring creep tests under development, were used, and the validation of the ring creep test method was conducted. The results showed that 9Cr-ODS steel undergoes almost no strength change due to the matrix's phase transformation, and a single equation can express a creep rupture strength from 700C to 1000C. In validating the ring creep test method, analysis clarified the effect of stress concentration on the specimen. Plastic deformation occurs at high initial stress and may lead to early rupture. The results will be essential for future creep testing and evaluation of neutron-irradiated 9Cr-ODS steel.

Study on simulation code for transverse instabilities for the J-PARC MR

Yoshimura, Nobuyuki*; Toyama, Takeshi*; Shobuda, Yoshihiro; Nakamura, Takeshi*; Omi, Kazuhito*; Kobayashi, Aine*; Okada, Masashi*; Sato, Yoichi*; Nakaya, Tsuyoshi*

Proceedings of 20th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (Internet), p.260 - 264, 2023/11

https://www.pasj.jp/web_publish/pasj2023/proceedings/PDF/TUP0/TUP03.pdf

The J-PARC main ring (MR) will be increased to 1.3 MW. To cope with the increase in beam intensity, the intra-bunch feedback system (IBFB) needs to be upgraded to handle higher frequencies up to about 200 MHz. To evaluate the performance and understand the optimal parameters after this upgrade, we are developing a particle tracking simulation that includes the necessary components. The recoherence period induced by chromaticity between tracking simulations and experiments are compared and it cannot be discribed by the simple simulations, and we investigate what mechanisms explain this result. The shift of synchrotron tune caused by longitudinal wakes using tracking simulations are calculated and it find that introducing the effect of longitudinal wakes only does not explain the recoherence period in the experimental results.

High temperature mechanical properties and microstructure in 9Cr or 12Cr oxide dispersion strengthened steels

Mitsuhara, Masatoshi*; Kurino, Koichi*; Yano, Yasuhide; Otsuka, Satoshi; Toyama, Takeshi*; Onuma, Masato*; Nakashima, Hideharu*

Tetsu To Hagane, 109(3), p.189 - 200, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.2355/tetsutohagane.TETSU-2022-080

Oxide Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) ferritic steel, a candidate material for fast reactor fuel cladding, has low thermal expansion, good thermal conductivity, and excellent resistance to irradiation damage and high temperature strength. The origin of the excellent high-temperature strength lies in the dispersion of fine oxides. In this study, creep tests at 700 or 750C, which are close to the operating temperatures of fast reactors, and high-temperature tensile tests at 900 to 1350 C, which simulate accident conditions, were conducted on 9Cr ODS ferritic steels, M11 and MP23, and 12Cr ODS ferritic steel, F14, to confirm the growth behavior of oxides. In the M11 and F14 creep test samples, there was little oxide growth or decrease in number density from the initial state, indicating that dispersion strengthening by oxides was effective during deformation. After creep deformation of F14, the development of dislocation substructures such as dislocation walls and subgrain boundaries was hardly observed, and mobile dislocations were homogeneously distributed in the grains. The dislocation density increased with increasing stress during the creep test. In the high-temperature ring tensile tests of MP23 and F14, the strength of both steels decreased at higher temperatures. In MP23, elongation decreased with increasing test temperature from 900 to 1100 C, but increased at 1200 C, decreased drastically at 1250 C, and increased again at 1300 C. In F14, elongation decreased with increasing temperature. It was inferred that the formation of the -ferrite phase was responsible for this complex change in mechanical properties of MP23 from 1200 to 1300 C.

Progress of evaluation of beam coupling impedance reduction for the Eddy-current type septum magnet in J-PARC MR

Kobayashi, Aine*; Toyama, Takeshi*; Nakamura, Takeshi*; Shobuda, Yoshihiro; Ishii, Koji*; Tomizawa, Masahito*; Takeuchi, Yasunao*; Sato, Yoichi*

Proceedings of 19th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (Internet), p.19 - 23, 2023/01

https://www.pasj.jp/web_publish/pasj2022/proceedings/PDF/TUOB/TUOB01.pdf

In the J-PARC main ring, density modulation due to longitudinal beam instability occurs during the debunching process of coasting beams. This leads to the generation of an electron cloud, which in turn causes transverse beam instabilities. The transverse beam instability causes beam loss and the electron cloud is assumed to cause vacuum degradation, both of which hinder the beam intensity enhancement, so it is essential to clarify the causes and countermeasures. In particular, the longitudinal impedance of several hundred MHz has been investigated as relevant, and measures to reduce the impedance of individual devices are underway. The Eddy-current type septum magnet, newly installed this year, was found to have a large impedance by simulation. Therefore, we are investigating a method to reduce the impedance by a flange loaded with SiC radio wave absorber, which can be applied to locations where there is no spatial margin to install a taper. In this report, we will discuss the characterization of SiC to be used in actual devices, impedance simulation reflecting the results of SiC evaluation, and evaluation of the effect of impedance countermeasures by impedance measurement using the wire method, and progress in evaluating the effect on the beam by beam simulation and beam study.

Design and actual performance of J-PARC 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron for high-intensity operation

Yamamoto, Kazami; Kinsho, Michikazu; Hayashi, Naoki; Saha, P. K.; Tamura, Fumihiko; Yamamoto, Masanobu; Tani, Norio; Takayanagi, Tomohiro; Kamiya, Junichiro; Shobuda, Yoshihiro; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(9), p.1174 - 1205, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2038301

In the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, the purpose of the 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) is to accelerate a 1 MW, high-intensity proton beam. To achieve beam operation at a repetition rate of 25 Hz at high intensities, the RCS was elaborately designed. After starting the RCS operation, we carefully verified the validity of its design and made certain improvements to establish a reliable operation at higher power as possible. Consequently, we demonstrated beam operation at a high power, namely, 1 MW. We then summarized the design, actual performance, and improvements of the RCS to achieve a 1 MW beam.

Impedance reduction by a SiC-loaded flange and its application to the J-PARC main ring septum magnet

Kobayashi, Aine*; Toyama, Takeshi*; Nakamura, Takeshi*; Shobuda, Yoshihiro; Ishi, Koji*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1031, p.166515_1 - 166515_12, 2022/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2022.166515

The beam power of the main ring of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) is currently being increased. For high-power beam realization, it is essential to suppress the beam instability that limits the beam power and to estimate and enact countermeasures against the beam coupling impedance of individual devices. The fast-extraction (FX) septum magnet will be replaced with another magnet that copes with higher numbers of repetition cycles. Despite their different structures, both septa demonstrated a large impedance in estimates performed by the CST studio suite wake-field solver. The widely used taper impedance-reduction method would be effective but receives spatial constraints. By attaching a copper plate and SiC to the flange of the septum magnet, we could effectively reduce the impedance. The copper plate on the flange reduces the impedance below the cut-off frequency. Moreover, when SiC was loaded, the remaining impedance was three times lower than when using the copper plate alone. After applying this method to the new septum magnet, the maximum longitudinal impedance was reduced to 1% of the value without countermeasures, largely improving the beam stability condition. We also estimated the required thickness of SiC and the calorific value. This method saves space and is installed by simple attachment to the flange, regardless of the shape of the beam pipe. Therefore, it is also applicable to other devices.

The Role of silicon on solute clustering and embrittlement in highly neutron-irradiated pressurized water reactor surveillance test specimens

Takamizawa, Hisashi; Hata, Kuniki; Nishiyama, Yutaka; Toyama, Takeshi*; Nagai, Yasuyoshi*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 556, p.153203_1 - 153203_10, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.153203

Solute clusters (SCs) formed in pressurized water reactor surveillance test specimens neutron-irradiated to a fluence of 1 10 n/cm were analyzed via atom probe tomography to understand the effect of silicon on solute clustering and irradiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steels. In high-Cu bearing materials, Cu atoms were aggregated at the center of cluster surrounded by the Ni, Mn, and Si atoms like a core-shell structure. In low-Cu bearing materials, Ni, Mn, and Si atoms formed cluster and these solutes were not comprised core-shell structure in SCs. While the number of Cu atoms in clusters was decreased with decreasing nominal Cu content, the number of Si atoms had clearly increased. The cluster radius () and number density () decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing nominal Si content. The shift in the reference temperature for nil-ductility transition (RT) showed a good correlation with the square root of volume fraction () multiplied by r (). This suggested that the dislocation cutting through the particles mechanism dominates the precipitation hardening responsible for irradiation embrittlement. The negative relation between the nominal Si content and RT indicated that increasing of nominal Si content reduces the degree of embrittlement.

Evaluation and countermeasures for impedance of fast extraction septa and fast extraction kickers at the J-PARC main ring

Kobayashi, Aine*; Toyama, Takeshi*; Nakamura, Takeshi*; Shobuda, Yoshihiro; Ishii, Koji*

Proceedings of 18th Annual Meeting of Particle Accelerator Society of Japan (Internet), p.287 - 291, 2021/10

https://www.pasj.jp/web_publish/pasj2021/proceedings/PDF/MOP0/MOP022.pdf

no abstracts in English