A Study for establishment of passive creep-fatigue test techniques using the difference of thermal expansion coefficients of materials

Wakai, Takashi; Ando, Masanori; Okajima, Satoshi; Toyota, Kodai; Ishigami, Katsuo*; Onuma, Terumitsu*; Takahashi, Ryoya*; Asayama, Tai

Nihon Kikai Gakkai Rombunshu (Internet), 92(961), p.26-00004_1 - 26-00004_12, 2026/09

https://doi.org/10.1299/transjsme.26-00004

This paper describes current efforts within the Japan Atomic Energy Agency to develop a new materials surveillance technology for sodium-cooled fast reactors that aims at raising the confidence levels in operating reactors' structural integrity to the ones which could otherwise be achieved only by a vast amount of long-term material test data that needs decades to accumulate. The technology would allow for monitoring on-going materials degradation processes in an actual reactor, namely fatigue and creep-fatigue, by inserting a newly developed specimen for this purpose into the reactor and establishing procedures to observe and evaluate the specimen to get desired information such as the extent of degradation and residual life. To establish the test procedure, a passive creep-fatigue test model was developed in the framework of the "Civil Nuclear Energy Research and Development Working Group (CNWG)", a collaboration agreement between the US and Japan, and a demonstration test was performed under cyclic thermal loads using an electric furnace. Temperature conditions had been determined based on finite element analyses. As a result, the test specimen failed by several hundred thermal cycles. Macroscopic inspection of the specimen after the test showed the test had been performed successfully without buckling. Fracture surface observations suggested that the failure caused probably by fatigue or creep-fatigue.

Development of a radiation resistant laser scanner and 3D modeling method using AI and image processing (Contract research); FY2024 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; The University of Osaka*

JAEA-Review 2026-009, 81 Pages, 2026/07

JAEA-Review-2026-009.pdf:5.42MB

The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), has been conducting the Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project (hereafter referred to "the Project") from FY2019. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). For this purpose, intelligence was collected from all over the world, and basic research and human resource development were promoted by closely integrating/collaborating knowledge and experiences in various fields beyond the barrier of conventional organizations and research fields. The sponsor of the Project was moved from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to JAEA since the newly adopted proposals in FY2018. On this occasion, JAEA constructed a new research system where JAEA-academia collaboration is reinforced and medium-to-long term research/development and human resource development contributing to the decommissioning are stably and consecutively implemented. Among the adopted proposals in FY2024, this report summarizes the research results of the "Development of a radiation resistant laser scanner and 3D modeling method using AI and image processing" conducted in FY2024. This research focuses on developing a radiation-resistant 3D laser scanner and technologies to enhance the quality of point cloud data. A new scanner system was designed with a laser scanning head composed only of radiation-tolerant electrical and mechanical components, excluding semiconductors, and a control unit placed remotely in a low-radiation zone. The system aims to enable stable scanning in high-radiation environments. Its performance will be evaluated in comparison with commercial scanners. To address the sparsity of acquired point clouds, we are developing two complementary systems: one uses machine learning to complete and enhance point clouds through processes such as denoising, normalization, and interpolation; the other uses photogrammetry to reconstruct 3D data from image sets and integrate it with scanner-derived data. In FY2024, (1) Optical and electronic circuits were designed and assembled, and waveform collection and analysis software was developed to prepare for scanner detection efficiency evaluation. (2) A point cloud completion system incorporating AI was implemented, and methods for point cloud densification and completion were investigated. (3) A processing environment and workflow were established to integrate point clouds with photogrammetry, and 3D surface models were constructed. (4) Efficient scanning strategies under high-radiation conditions were analyzed, and a methodology for accuracy evaluation was studied. (5) The project was advanced through close coordination among research components and related institutions.

Reports on research activities and evaluation of advanced computational science in FY2024

Center for Computational Science & e-Systems

JAEA-Evaluation 2026-003, 41 Pages, 2026/06

JAEA-Evaluation-2026-003.pdf:1.08MB

Research on advanced computational science for nuclear applications, based on "the plan to achieve the medium- and long-term goal of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency", has been performed by Center for Computational Science & e-Systems (CCSE), Japan Atomic Energy Agency. CCSE established a committee consisting of external experts and authorities which evaluates and advises toward the future research and development. This report summarizes the results of the R&D performed by CCSE in FY2024 (April 1st, 2024 - March 31st, 2025) and their evaluation by the committee.

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.

Effect of nanoscale cellular structure on the mechanical properties of Inconel 718 with unique hierarchical structure fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

Cho, K.*; Yamashita, Kippei*; Kakutani, Shinnosuke*; Saito, Takuma*; Sasaki, Taisuke*; Sawaizumi, Katsuhiko*; Okugawa, Masayuki*; Koizumi, Yuichiro*; Mayama, Tsuyoshi*; Kikukawa, Taichi*; et al.

Acta Materialia, 303, p.121696_1 - 121696_18, 2026/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121696

None

Koizumi, Mitsuo; Yogo, Akifumi*

Isotope News, (802), p.11 - 14, 2025/12

https://www.jrias.or.jp/books/cat3/2025/802.html

no abstracts in English

High-speed 3D modeling for nuclear reactor environment based on feature extraction results from video images (Contract research); FY2023 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Sapporo University*

JAEA-Review 2025-033, 71 Pages, 2025/11

JAEA-Review-2025-033.pdf:4.48MB

The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), had been conducting the Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2023. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F), Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). For this purpose, intelligence was collected from all over the world, and basic research and human resource development were promoted by closely integrating/collaborating knowledge and experiences in various fields beyond the barrier of conventional organizations and research fields. The sponsor of the Project was moved from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to JAEA since the newly adopted proposals in FY2018. On this occasion, JAEA constructed a new research system where JAEA-academia collaboration is reinforced and medium-to-long term research/development and human resource development contributing to the decommissioning are stably and consecutively implemented. Among the adopted proposals in FY2023, this report summarizes the research results of the "High-speed 3D modeling for nuclear reactor environment based on feature extraction results from video images" conducted in FY2023. The present study aims to develop a 3D model for a workspace that maximizes the amount of information based on the features extracted from video, which is taken when surveying the primary containment vessel and inside the reactor building as part of the decommissioning of 1F, considering within a specified time. In FY2023, we verified extracting effective shooting conditions for obtaining 3D reconstruction based on photogrammetry and the method extracting feature values that can generate 3D restoration results from a small amount of data within a specified time based on deep learning. In addition, we applied point cloud data extracted from video to segmentation and classified it into parts with instance labels.

Nanostructural analysis of composite materials by spin-contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering and neutron reflectometry

Kumada, Takayuki

For the Future of Hydrogen Science and Technology, 3(1), p.2 - 6, 2025/10

Clarification of debris formation conditions on the basis of the sampling data and experimental study using simulated fuel debris and reinforcement of the analytical results of severe accident scenario (Contract research); FY2023 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; University of Fukui*

JAEA-Review 2025-007, 120 Pages, 2025/09

JAEA-Review-2025-007.pdf:8.13MB

The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), had been conducting the Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2023. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F), Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). For this purpose, intelligence was collected from all over the world, and basic research and human resource development were promoted by closely integrating/collaborating knowledge and experiences in various fields beyond the barrier of conventional organizations and research fields. The sponsor of the Project was moved from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to JAEA since the newly adopted proposals in FY2018. On this occasion, JAEA constructed a new research system where JAEA-academia collaboration is reinforced and medium-to-long term research/development and human resource development contributing to the decommissioning are stably and consecutively implemented. Among the adopted proposals in FY2021, this report summarizes the research results of the "Clarification of debris formation conditions on the basis of the sampling data and experimental study using simulated fuel debris and reinforcement of the analytical results of severe accident scenario" conducted from FY2021 to FY2023. The present study aims to clarify the debris formation mechanism and utilize the results to refine the accident scenario. In the backward analysis of oxide debris formation, we prepared simulated fuel particles by the aerodynamic levitation method and ejection of melted oxides from a tungsten pipe with a small hole and summarized the relationship between preparation conditions and the properties of the particles. We also demonstrated the formation of simulated fuel debris obtained by the sampling in 1F and clarified the difference between the experimental results and thermodynamic calculation. From the estimation of mixing, melting and solidified states of metallic debris, it was found that the formation of thin reaction layer suppresses the damage of SUS in spite of Zr content around 1000 C, and we quantify the elution rate of BC and Zircaloy to the melted SUS. We extended reaction rate data between various pressure vessel with SUS and Zr and welding parts and suggested reaction rate equation for large scale experiment. We also estimated the failure behavior of lower plenum of pressure vessel and outflow behavior of melt. Furthermore, we estimated transition behavior of Uranium melt to metallic debris melt in the re-melting process of predropped metallic debris. As the experimental techniques in the future, we prepared the semi-melted debris from oxide and metals and analyzed the reaction products and discussed the formation of simulated debris with a small amount of uranium oxide using a CCIM furnace and the aerodynamic levitation method.

Particle arrangements and optical changes induced by the water swelling of melanin-like polydopamine layers

Watanabe, Taku*; Maejima, Yui*; Ueda, Yuki; Motokawa, Ryuhei; Takabatake, Ai*; Takeda, Shinichi*; Fudoji, Hiroshi*; Kishikawa, Keiki*; Koori, Michinari*

Langmuir, 41(34), p.22762 - 22773, 2025/09

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01855

The assembled structures of melanin particles, i.e., colloidal particles coated with a melanin-like polydopamine (PDA) layer, create vivid structural colors. While the thickness of the PDA layer influences the particle arrangement and optical properties, the underlying mechanism has remained controversial. We demonstrate that the water swelling characteristics of PDA are crucial factors governing the dispersion and aggregation of these particles in solution. Detailed comparisons between dry and wet conditions revealed that the PDA layer readily absorbs water molecules, which leads to significant swelling in the thicker layers. The swelling of the PDA layers determined whether the particles remained dispersed or partially aggregated in the water, ultimately controlling the particle arrangement in the dry state once the water evaporated. These findings provide insights into the self-assembly of colloidal particles and offer a strategy for tuning the periodic particle order. This feature is pivotal for various applications in optical and sensing technologies.