Unique deformation behavior of ultrafine-grained 304 stainless steel at 20 K

Mao, W.*; Gong, W.; 川崎 卓郎; Gao, S.*; 伊東 達矢; 山下 享介*; Harjo, S.; Zhao, L.*; Wang, Q.*

Scripta Materialia, 264, p.116726_1 - 116726_6, 2025/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.116726

An ultrafine-grained 304 austenitic stainless steel exhibited pronounced serrated Luders deformation at 20 K, with stress and temperature oscillations reaching 200 MPa and 20 K. neutron diffraction and digital image correlation revealed discontinuous Luders band propagation and burst martensite formation. During deformation, austenite phase stress remained lower than at upper yielding, indicating elastic behavior. Notably, martensite phase stress stayed lower than austenite until fracture, likely due to stress relaxation from burst martensitic transformation at 20 K. The low martensite stress delayed brittle fracture until austenite plastically yielded during uniform deformation.

Grain refinement of dual phase steel maximizes deformation ability of martensite, leading to simultaneous enhancement of strength and ductility

Park, M.-H.*; 柴田 曉伸*; Harjo, S.; 辻 伸泰*

Acta Materialia, 292, p.121061_1 - 121061_13, 2025/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121061

Dual-phase (DP) steel, composed of soft ferrite and hard martensite, offers excellent strength-ductility balance and low cost. This study found that refining the DP microstructure enhanced both yield strength and strain hardening, improving strength and ductility. Digital image correlation (DIC) revealed strain localization in ferrite, but refinement reduced strain differences between ferrite and martensite, suppressing crack initiation. More ferrite/martensite interfaces promoted plasticity in martensite via enhanced deformation constraint. neutron diffraction showed martensite bore higher phase stress, which increased with refinement. By combining -DIC and neutron data, individual stress-strain curves for ferrite and martensite were constructed for the first time, explaining the strength-ductility synergy through interphase constraint. These findings offer guidance for designing heterostructured materials to overcome the strength-ductility trade-off.

Neutronics-thermal-hydraulics-coupled transient analysis for reactor power change in an inclined offshore floating boiling water reactor

福田 航大; 小原 徹*; 須山 賢也

Nuclear Technology, 211(5), p.963 - 973, 2025/05

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2368966

An application of the boiling water reactor (BWR) to an offshore floating nuclear power plant (OFNP) is discussed in Japan. The BWR-type OFNP has some challenges for practical use, although it has high economic efficiency because of downsizing and simplification. One challenge is understanding reactor kinetics under conditions specific to the marine environment. This study quantitatively clarifies the total and spatial changes in power when the BWR is inclined during regular operation. Therefore, the TRAC/RELAP Advanced Computational Engine (TRACE) and Purdue Advanced Reactor Core Simulator (PARCS) codes were used to perform a three-dimensional neutronics-thermal-hydraulics-coupled transient analysis. The calculation model is based on Peach Bottom II. This study clarifies the changing trend in total and local BWR power by inclination with simplified modeling and conditions. Reasons for such changes are discussed based on changes in several thermal-hydraulic parameters. The difference in BWR power against the inclinations is small. Thus, it was implied that the BWR-type OFNP is expected to have a stable power supply capability during natural disasters. Finally, requires further studies to support the obtained conclusions are discussed.

Development of a method for the determination of spontaneous fission nuclides in irradiated fuel and applicability to Pu quantification in fuel debris by dual time neutron measurements

長谷 竹晃; 小菅 義広*; 相楽 洋*; 中岫 翔; 能見 貴佳; 奥村 啓介

Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology (Internet), 7, p.41 - 46, 2025/05

https://doi.org/10.15669/pnst.7.41

This paper provides an overview of plutonium quantification in irradiated fuel including fuel debris at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants, named Dual Time Measurement (DTM) method. Spontaneous fission nuclides in irradiated fuel decrease exponentially with the passage of time according to the mainly half-life of Cm-244 (half-life of about 18.11 years). By measuring neutrons two times with long time intervals, Pu-240 effective mass (half-life of about 6,500 years) and Cm-244 mass can be quantified. Pu mass can be quantified by utilizing the correlation between ratio of Cm-244/ Pu-240 effective mass and Pu/ Pu-240 effective mass. The applicability of DTM method was evaluated numerically. The results show that long time interval was required to reduce the random errors. In the case that the interval between the first and second measurements is 32 years, Pu-240 effective mass and Pu can be quantified with uncertainties of 10-50% depending on the presence of water in storage canister and the burnup condition of irradiated fuel including the mixture of several burnup compositions in fuel debris.

Role of solute hydrogen on mechanical property enhancement in Fe-24Cr-19Ni austenitic steel; An neutron diffraction study

伊東 達矢; 小川 祐平*; Gong, W.; Mao, W.*; 川崎 卓郎; 岡田 和歩*; 柴田 曉伸*; Harjo, S.

Acta Materialia, 287, p.120767_1 - 120767_16, 2025/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2025.120767

Incorporating solute hydrogen into Fe-Cr-Ni-based austenitic stainless steels enhances both strength and ductility, providing a promising solution to hydrogen embrittlement by causing solid-solution strengthening and assisting deformation twinning. However, its impacts on the relevant lattice defects evolution (, dislocations, stacking faults, and twins) during deformation remains unclear. This study compared the tensile deformation behavior in an Fe-24Cr-19Ni (mass%) austenitic steel with 7600 atom ppm hydrogen-charged (H-charged) and without hydrogen-charged (non-charged) using neutron diffraction. Hydrogen effects on the lattice expansion, solid-solution strengthening, stacking fault probability, stacking fault energy, dislocation density, and strain/stress for twin evolution were quantitatively evaluated to link them with the macroscale mechanical properties. The H-charged sample showed improvements in yield stress, flow stress, and uniform elongation, consistent with earlier findings. However, solute hydrogen exhibited minimal influences on the evolution of dislocation and stacking fault. This fact contradicts the previous reports on hydrogen-enhanced dislocation and stacking fault evolutions, the latter of which can be responsible for the enhancement of twinning. The strain for twin evolution was smaller in the H-charged sample compared to the non-charged one. Nevertheless, when evaluated as the onset stress for twin evolution, there was minimal change between the two samples. These findings suggest that the increase in flow stress due to the solid-solution strengthening by hydrogen is a root cause of accelerated deformation twinning at a smaller strain, leading to an enhanced work-hardening rate and improved uniform elongation.

In situ neutron diffraction study of strain evolution and load partitioning during elevated temperature tensile test in HIP-Treated electron beam powder bed fusion manufactured Ti-6Al-4V

Pandian, K.*; Neikter, M.*; Ekh, M.*; Harjo, S.; 川崎 卓郎; Woracek, R.*; Hansson, T.*; Pederson, R.*

JOM, 77(4), p.1803 - 1815, 2025/04

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-025-07128-1

To produce dense Ti-6Al-4V components, electron beam powder bed fusion is typically followed by post-heat treatment like hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Standard HIP at 920C/100 MPa for 2 h coarsens the microstructure and reduces yield strength, while low-temp HIP at 800C/200 MPa for 2 h limits coarsening and retains strength comparable to as-built material. A coarser microstructure negatively affects tensile properties. Tensile tests at various temperatures suggest that thermally activated slip systems may influence elongation, requiring further study. In situ neutron time-of-flight diffraction during tensile loading enables analysis of strain evolution and slip plane activity. A two-phase elastic-plastic self-consistent model was used to compare with experiments. Results show basal slip {0002} activated at 20C, pyramidal slip {10-11} at 350C, and phase carrying higher stress than in the plastic regime.

JRR-3利用申請システムRING (Research Information NaviGator)の拡張

阿部 一英

JAEA-Review 2024-065, 26 Pages, 2025/03

JAEA-Review-2024-065.pdf:2.55MB

日本原子力研究開発機構が保有する試験研究炉「JRR-3」は、令和3年2月26日に約10年ぶりに運転を再開した。この研究炉は供用施設として運営されており、外部からの利用者も受け入れている。利用課題の提案から成果報告書の提出までの手続きは、オンラインシステム「JRR-3 RING(Research Information NaviGator)」(https://jrr3ring.jaea.go.jp/)を通じて行われる。RINGは、課題申請、スケジュール調整、データ共有、成果報告までを一括して管理できるシステムであり、供用再開に向けた整備が進められてきた。RINGは特にビーム利用ユーザーの利便性を重視して設計されており、申請手続きの簡略化やスケジュール調整の柔軟性向上、データ管理機能の強化が特徴である。このシステムの導入によりユーザーは効率的かつ安全に研究を進めることが可能になった。今後JRR-3は国内外の多様な研究者に利用される中性子研究のプラットフォームとしての役割を拡大していく。供用再開とRINGの拡張は、中性子利用研究の活性化に寄与し、産業界や学術界との連携を推進する重要な一歩である。今回、新たに整備された機能や今後の展望について、報告する。

Measurements of neutron capture cross-section for nuclides of interest in decommissioning (II); Fe(n,)Fe

中村 詔司; 芝原 雄司*; 遠藤 駿典; Rovira Leveroni, G.; 木村 敦

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 62(3), p.300 - 307, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2024.2427244

As nuclear facilities are dismantled in decommissioning, large amount of various waste is generated. Even more inconveniently, waste is radioactive due to neutron activation. Thus, the neutron capture cross-sections of nuclides targeted in decommissioning are required to evaluate the radioactivity produced. In this work, Fe nuclide was selected among objective nuclides for decommissioning, and its thermal-neutron capture cross-section was measured by a neutron activation method at the graphite thermal column of Kyoto University Research Reactor in 5-MW operation. The thermal-neutron capture cross-section was derived using s convention. The present work obtained 1.360.03 barns for the Fe(n,)Fe reaction. The present result supports the JENDL-5 evaluation within 2. If updated with currently recommended nuclear data, some of the reported past data would support the present result.

隠匿された核物質の現場検知システムの開発; 核セキュリティ強化に向けた取組

田辺 鴻典*; 米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔; 北村 康則*; 三澤 毅*

日本原子力学会誌ATOMO, 67(3), p.198 - 202, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.3327/jaesjb.67.3_198

鉛等で隠匿されたUに対する非破壊測定技術の開発は、長年、核セキュリティ上の最重要課題と言われてきたが、依然として現場レベルでの検知は困難な状況にある。我々はCf回転照射法と呼ばれる新たな核物質非破壊測定手法を提案し、回転照射装置と水チェレンコフ中性子検出器で構成される運搬性の高い現場検知システムを開発、本システムによる核物質検知を実証した。本報では、開発したシステムを概説するとともに今後の展望について解説する。

Evaluation report for sludge measurement by nondestructive assay (Plutonium Scrap Multiplicity Counter)(Joint research)

谷川 聖史; 瀬谷 和仁*; 浅川 直也*; 林 宏幸*; 堀籠 和志; 向 泰宣; 北尾 貴彦; 中村 仁宣; Henzlova, D.*; Swinhoe, M. T.*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2024-014, 63 Pages, 2025/02

JAEA-Technology-2024-014.pdf:3.02MB

プルトニウム転換技術開発施設の廃液処理工程で発生したスラッジ中のPu量を評価する上で、スラッジは生成上、多くの不純物(Na, Fe, Ni等)を含み不均質であるため、従来の破壊分析ではサンプリングによる代表性が乏しく、Pu量測定に係る測定不確かさが大きかった(約24%)。この測定不確かさを低減させるために、日本原子力研究開発機構と米国ロスアラモス国立研究所は共同で中性子を利用した非破壊測定装置のPlutonium Scrap Multiplicity Counter (PSMC)を用いた測定技術の開発を進めた。MOX粉末を用いた模擬スラッジやモンテカルロ法により検証等を行いPSMC検出器パラメーター(predelay, doubles gatefraction等)を最適化し、高分解能ガンマ線分光分析を組み合わせて測定した結果、含有不純物の影響はないことが確認でき、従来法と比べ新たに設定した非破壊測定方法における測定不確かさは約6.5%まで低減できた。さらに、PSMC測定値の妥当性を評価するため、IAEA立ち合いの下、ガンマ線を測定しPu量を評価するIn Situ Object Counting System (ISOCS)を用いた比較測定した結果、ISOCSとPSMCの測定値は両方の測定不確かさの範囲内で一致したため、PSMCによる測定値の妥当性が確認された。これらの結果より、本非破壊測定技術はスラッジのように不純物を多く含み、サンプリングの代表性が乏しいアイテムに有効であり、スラッジの計量管理に適用することが認められた。