Neutronic characteristics of a partially damaged reactor model with varying numbers of damaged fuel assemblies

Nguyen, H. H.

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 230, p.112171_1 - 112171_13, 2026/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2026.112171

This study examined the effects of the moderator-to-fuel volume ratio, fuel debris shape, and the number of damaged fuel assemblies on the neutronic characteristics of a partially damaged reactor model, where the fuel assemblies at the core center melt to fuel debris while the fuel assemblies at the outer region remain intact. The investigations were conducted using the Serpent code and the JENDL-5 library. The results show that when fuel debris is surrounded by intact fuel assemblies, the k can be classified into two groups based on the shape of the fuel debris. Conversely, in scenarios where the fuel debris is not fully encircled by intact fuel assemblies, the shape of the fuel debris has a negligible impact on the k. Additionally, the relationship between the number of neutrons entering and leaving the fuel debris determines how the shape of the fuel debris affects the k.

Martensitic transformation and shape memory effect in Mn-rich Cu-Mn-Al alloys

Ito, Tatsuya; Xu, S.*; Xu, X.*; Omori, Toshihiro*; Kainuma, Ryosuke*

Shape Memory and Superelasticity, 11(2), p.167 - 175, 2025/06

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40830-025-00519-y

Demonstration of shape analysis of neutron resonance transmission spectrum measured with a laser-driven neutron source

Koizumi, Mitsuo; Ito, Fumiaki*; Lee, J.; Hironaka, Kota; Takahashi, Tone; Suzuki, Satoshi*; Arikawa, Yasunobu*; Abe, Yuki*; Lan, Z.*; Wei, T.*; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 14, p.21916_1 - 21916_9, 2024/09

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72836-8

Anisotropic creep property related to non-spherical shape of mechanically alloyed powder of oxide dispersion strengthened F82H

Sakasegawa, Hideo; Nakajima, Motoki*; Kato, Taichiro*; Nozawa, Takashi*; Ando, Masami*

Materials Today Communications (Internet), 40, p.109659_1 - 109659_8, 2024/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.109659

Nanometric oxide particles play an important role in improving the creep property of Oxide Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) steels. In our previous research, we examined a microstructural feature known as prior particle boundary (PPB). PPB refers to the surface of mechanically alloyed (MA) powders before consolidation. We revealed that the ODS steel with fine PPBs produced from smaller MA powders, exhibited shorter creep rupture times, compared to that with coarse PPBs produced from larger MA powders. The size of MA powders had an impact on the creep property. In this study, we examined the shape of MA powders, which were non-spherical shapes. Such shapes have the potential to induce anisotropic creep behavior. We conducted small punch creep tests on specimens with two different orientations to study the possible anisotropy. The results revealed that the creep rupture times varied depending on the orientation of specimen, thus indicating anisotropic creep property.

Study on cavitation damage evolution influenced by input power

Wakui, Takashi; Takagishi, Yoichi*; Futakawa, Masatoshi

Zairyo, 73(6), p.520 - 526, 2024/06

https://doi.org/10.2472/jsms.73.520

Cavitation damage is one of crucial issues to predict the structural endurability of the mercury targets for highly intensive pulsed neutron sources. Based on the comparison with numerical simulation on the pit shape and results of the basic test, the cavitation bubble collapsing was assumed to be resulted in the micro jet with the impact velocity of 160-200 m/s, imposing then impact pressure of 3-4 GPa at the input power simulating the operation condition in the mercury targets. It was statistically understandable that cavitation damage evolution was proportional to 4th power of the input power approximately, as taking the aggressivity of cavitation bubbles, the distribution of the maximum diameter of grown bubbles and the space of distribution of bubbles in the mercury into account.

Development of dispersed phase tracking method for time-series 3-dimensional interface shape data

Horiguchi, Naoki; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Yamamura, Sota*; Fujiwara, Kota*; Kaneko, Akiko*; Abe, Yutaka*

Proceedings of 19th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-19) (Internet), 14 Pages, 2022/03

Measurements of neutronic characteristics of rectangular and cylindrical coupled hydrogen moderators

Kai, Tetsuya; Kamiyama, Takashi*; Hiraga, Fujio*; Oi, Motoki; Hirota, Katsuya*; Kiyanagi, Yoshiaki*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 55(3), p.283 - 289, 2018/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2017.1394235

Design study of national centralized tokamak facility for the demonstration of steady state high- plasma operation

Tamai, Hiroshi; Akiba, Masato; Azechi, Hiroshi*; Fujita, Takaaki; Hamamatsu, Kiyotaka; Hashizume, Hidetoshi*; Hayashi, Nobuhiko; Horiike, Hiroshi*; Hosogane, Nobuyuki; Ichimura, Makoto*; et al.

Nuclear Fusion, 45(12), p.1676 - 1683, 2005/12

https://doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/45/12/023

Design studies are shown on the National Centralized Tokamak facility. The machine design is carried out to investigate the capability for the flexibility in aspect ratio and shape controllability for the demonstration of the high-beta steady state operation with nation-wide collaboration, in parallel with ITER towards DEMO. Two designs are proposed and assessed with respect to the physics requirements such as confinement, stability, current drive, divertor, and energetic particle confinement. The operation range in the aspect ratio and the plasma shape is widely enhanced in consistent with the sufficient divertor pumping. Evaluations of the plasma performance towards the determination of machine design are presented.

CsI(Tl)/Plastic phoswich detector enhanced in low-energy -ray detection

Yamasoto, Kotaro; Tsutsumi, Masahiro; Oishi, Tetsuya*; Yoshizawa, Michio; Yoshida, Makoto

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 550(3), p.609 - 615, 2005/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2005.05.054

A phoswich detector composed of a thin plate CsI(Tl) scintillator and a plastic scintillator (BC-400) has been designed and evaluated to improve the sensitivity in the low-energy region of large-area plastic scintillation detector. Applicability of the CsI(Tl)/Plastic phoswich detector was examined on radioactivity measurement of massive and large-area materials. The rise-time discrimination technique was applied in order to further improve the minimum detectable activity in the low-energy region. On the basis of the estimation of minimum detectable activity, it was made clear that the energy range of large-area plastic scintillation detector can be expanded down to a few tens of keV by adding a thin plate CsI(Tl) scintillator.

Neutronic studies on decoupled hydrogen moderator for a short-pulse spallation source

Harada, Masahide; Watanabe, Noboru; Teshigawara, Makoto; Kai, Tetsuya; Ikeda, Yujiro

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 539(1-2), p.345 - 362, 2005/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2004.10.013

Neutronic studies of decoupled hydrogen moderators were performed by calculations taking into account para hydrogen content, decoupling energy, moderator dimensions/shapes and reflector material. Low-energy parts of calculated spectral intensities with different para hydrogen contents were analyzed by a modified Maxwell function to characterize neutron spectra. The result shows that a 100% para hydrogen moderator gives the highest pulse peak intensity together with the narrowest pulse width and the shortest decay times. Pulse broadening with a reflector was explained by time distributions of source neutrons entering into the moderator through a decoupler. Material dependence of time distribution was studied. A decoupling energy higher than 1 eV does not bring about a large improvement in pulse widths and decay times, even at a large penalty in the peak intensity. The optimal moderator thickness was also discussed for a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a canteen shape moderators.