Evolution of the reaction and alteration of mudstone with ordinary Portland cement leachates; Sequential flow experiments and reactive-transport modelling

Bateman, K.; Murayama, Shota*; Hanamachi, Yuji*; Wilson, J.*; Seta, Takamasa*; Amano, Yuki; Kubota, Mitsuru*; Ouchi, Yuji*; Tachi, Yukio

Minerals (Internet), 11(9), p.1026_1 - 1026_23, 2021/09

https://doi.org/10.3390/min11091026

Using natural systems evidence to test models of transformation of montmorillonite

Savage, D.*; Wilson, J.*; Benbow, S.*; Sasamoto, Hiroshi; Oda, Chie; Walker, C.*; Kawama, Daisuke*; Tachi, Yukio

Applied Clay Science, 195, p.105741_1 - 105741_11, 2020/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2020.105741

Safety functions for the clay buffer in a repository for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) are fulfilled if the presence of montmorillonite with high swelling capacity and low permeability is maintained in the long-term. The transformation of montmorillonite to the non-swelling mineral likely illite is addressed in most safety assessments by using simple semi-empirical kinetic models, but this approach contrasts with more complex reactive-transport simulations. In the present study, reactive-transport simulations are compared with simple semi-empirical kinetic models. Results suggest that reactive-transport simulations err on the side of conservatism, but may produce unrealistic estimates of illitization. This comparison demonstrates that reactive-transport models may be carefully applied to simulate the long-term evolution of near field environment for HLW disposal.

Fine structure in the decay of At

Cubiss, J. G.*; Andreyev, A. N.; Barzakh, A. E.*; Andel, B.*; Antalic, S.*; Cocolios, T. E.*; Day Goodacre, T.*; Fedorov, D. V.*; Fedosseev, V. N.*; Ferrer, R.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 99(6), p.064317_1 - 064317_6, 2019/06

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.99.064317

An decay of At was studied at the CERN-ISOLDE facility using a laser-ionization technique. Coincidence - data were collected for the first time and a more precise half-life value of T = 1.27(6) s was measured. A new -decay scheme was deduced based on the fine-structure of the decay. The results lead to a preferred spin and parity assignment of J = (3) for the ground state of At; however, J = (2) cannot be fully excluded.

EXILL; A High-efficiency, high-resolution setup for -spectroscopy at an intense cold neutron beam facility

Jentschel, M.*; Blanc, A.*; de France, G.*; Kster, U.*; Leoni, S.*; Mutti, P.*; Simpson, G.*; Soldner, T.*; Ur, C.*; Urban, W.*; et al.

Journal of Instrumentation (Internet), 12(11), p.P11003_1 - P11003_33, 2017/11

https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/12/11/P11003

Uniaxial pressure effect on the magnetic ordered moment and transition temperatures in BaFeTAs ( = Co,Ni)

Tam, D. M.*; Song, Y.*; Man, H.*; Cheung, S. C.*; Yin, Z.*; Lu, X.*; Wang, W.*; Frandsen, B. A.*; Liu, L.*; Gong, Z.*; et al.

Physical Review B, 95(6), p.060505_1 - 060505_6, 2017/02

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.95.060505

The Martian surface radiation environment; A Comparison of models and MSL/RAD measurements

Matthi, D.*; Ehresmann, B.*; Lohf, H.*; Khler, J.*; Zeitlin, C.*; Appel, J.*; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Slaba, T. C.*; Martin, C.*; Berger, T.*; et al.

Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate (Internet), 6, p.A13_1 - A13_17, 2016/03

https://doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2016008

The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) has been measuring the radiation environment on the surface of Mars since August 6th 2012. In this work, several models such as GEANT4, PHITS, and HZETRN/OLTARIS are used to predict the radiation environment caused by galactic cosmic rays on Mars in order to compare and validate them with the experimental results. Although good agreement is found in many cases for GEANT4, PHITS and HZETRN/OLTARIS, some models still show large, sometimes order of magnitude, discrepancies in certain particle spectra. We have found that RAD data is helping make better choices of input parameters and physical models. These results help to predict dose rates for future manned missions as well as to perform shield optimization studies.

A Comparative study of the modelling of cement hydration and cement-rock laboratory experiments

Savage, D.*; Soler, J. M.*; Yamaguchi, Kohei; Walker, C.; Honda, Akira; Inagaki, Manabu; Watson, C.*; Wilson, J.*; Benbow, S.*; Gaus, I.*; et al.

Applied Geochemistry, 26(7), p.1138 - 1152, 2011/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.04.004

The use of cement and concrete as fracture grouting or as tunnel seals in a geological disposal facility for rad wastes creates potential issues concerning chemical reactivity. From a long term safety perspective, it is desirable to be able model these interactions and changes quantitatively. As part of the LCS (Long-term Cement Studies) project programme, a modelling inter-comparison has been conducted, involving the modelling of two experiments describing cement hadration and cement-rock reaction, with teams representing the NDA (UK), Posiva (Finland), and JAEA. This modelling exercise showed that the dominant reaction pathways in the two experiments are fairly well understood and are consistent between the different modelling teams, although significant differences existed amongst the precise parameterisation. Future modelling exercises of this type should focus on a suitable natural or industrial analogue that might aid assessing mineral-fluid reactions at these longer timescales.

Use of CAD generated geometry data in Monte Carlo transport calculations for ITER

Fischer, U.*; Iida, Hiromasa; Li, Y.*; Loughlin, M.*; Sato, Satoshi; Serikov, A.*; Tsige-Tamirat, H.*; Tautges, T.*; Wilson, P. P.*; Wu, Y.*

Fusion Science and Technology, 56(2), p.702 - 709, 2009/08

https://doi.org/10.13182/FST09-A8991

Several approaches have been recently developed to make available CAD geometry data for Monte Carlo calculations with the MCNP code. Among these are conversion tools for the automatic generation of geometry models in MCNP representation such as MCAM of China, McCad of Germany, and GEOMIT of JAEA, as well as the direct DAG-MCNPX approach developed by USA. An extensive benchmark exercise has been conducted on ITER between 2005 and 2007 with the objective to test and validate the different approaches and thereby check the maturity level for ITER design applications. The exercise encompassed the generation of a dedicated neutronics CATIA model based on available engineering CAD design data, the conversion into MCNP geometry, the verification of the converted models, and a number of calculations to compare the different approaches with regard to the performance and the validity of the results obtained. The paper briefly reviews the different approaches and provides a detailed description of the ITER benchmark effort, its results and conclusions. As a key issue, the recommendations are discussed that need to be followed when generating a neutronics CAD model for ITER design calculations. This is considered essential since the ITER quality assurance requirements will request the consistency of the analysis models and the underlying engineering CAD models.

Pedestal stability comparison and ITER pedestal prediction

Snyder, P. B.*; Aiba, Nobuyuki; Beurskens, M.*; Groebner, R. J.*; Horton, L. D.*; Hubbard, A. E.*; Hughes, J. W.*; Huysmans, G. T. A.*; Kamada, Yutaka; Kirk, A.*; et al.

Nuclear Fusion, 49(8), p.085035_1 - 085035_8, 2009/08

https://doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/49/8/085035

The pressure at the top of the edge transport barrier impacts fusion performance, while large ELMs can constrain material lifetimes. Investigation of intermediate wavelength MHD mode has led to improved understanding of the pedestal height and the mechanism for ELMs. The combination of high resolution diagnostics and a suite of stability codes has made edge stability analysis routine, and contribute both to understanding, and to experimental planning and performance optimization. Here we present extensive comparisons of observations to predicted edge stability boundaries on several tokamaks, both for the standard (Type I) ELM regime, and for small ELM and ELM-free regimes. We further discuss a new predictive model for the pedestal height and width (EPED1), developed by self-consistently combining a simple width model with peeling-ballooning stability calculations. This model is tested against experimental measurements, and used in initial predictions of the pedestal height for ITER.

Comparison of the spatial and temporal structure of type-I ELMs

Kirk, A.*; Asakura, Nobuyuki; Boedo, J. A.*; Beurskens, M.*; Counsell, G. F.*; Eich, T.*; Fundamenski, W.*; Herrmann, A.*; Kamada, Yutaka; Leonard, A. W.*; et al.

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 123, p.012011_1 - 012011_10, 2008/00

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/123/1/012011

A comparison of the spatial and temporal evolution of the filamentary structures observed during type I ELMs is presented from a variety of diagnostics and machines. There is evidence that these filaments can be detected inside the LCFS prior to ELMs. The filaments do not have a circular cross section instead they are elongated in the perpendicular (poloidal) direction and this size appears to increase linearly with the minor radius of the machine. The filaments start rotating toroidally/poloidally with velocities close to that of the pedestal. This velocity then decreases as the filaments propagate radially. It is most likely that the filaments have at least their initial radial velocity when they are far out into the SOL. The dominant loss mechanism is through parallel transport and the transport to the wall is through the radial propagation of these filaments. Measurements of the filament energy content show that each filament contains up to 2.5 % of the energy released by the ELM.