Activities of Working Group on Verification of PASCAL; Fiscal years 2016 and 2017

Li, Y.; Hirota, Takatoshi*; Itabashi, Yu*; Yamamoto, Masato*; Kanto, Yasuhiro*; Suzuki, Masahide*; Miyamoto, Yuhei*

JAEA-Review 2020-011, 130 Pages, 2020/09

JAEA-Review-2020-011.pdf:9.31MB

For the improvement of the structural integrity assessment methodology on reactor pressure vessels (RPVs), the probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) analysis code PASCAL has been developed and improved in Japan Atomic Energy Agency based on the latest knowledge. The PASCAL code evaluates the failure probabilities and frequencies of Japanese RPVs under transient events such as pressure thermal shock considering neutron irradiation embrittlement. In order to confirm the reliability of the PASCAL as a domestic standard code and to promote the application of PFM on the domestic structural integrity assessments of RPVs, it is important to perform verification activities, and summarize the verification processes and results as a document. On the basis of these backgrounds, we established a working group, composed of experts on this field besides the developers, on the verification of the PASCAL module and the source program of PASCAL was released to the members of working group. This report summarizes the activities of the working group on the verification of PASCAL in FY2016 and FY2017.

Genetic survey of indigenous microbial eukaryotic communities, mainly fungi, in sedimentary rock matrices of deep terrestrial subsurface

Saito, Yoshimoto*; Hirano, Shinichi*; Nagaoka, Toru*; Amano, Yuki

Ecological Genetics and Genomics, 12, p.100042_1 - 100042_9, 2019/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egg.2019.100042

Culture-independent molecular techniques enable us to analyze microflora in various environments. Many uncultured prokaryotes have been detected by the molecular methods from extreme environments, including anaerobic, no light, high-pressure, and high temperature. Recently, microbial eukaryotes were also detected in deep-sea environments, suggesting that microbial eukaryotes can adapt to a wider range of environments than previously thought. Here, we performed a culture-independent analysis of eukaryotes from approximately -250 m depth in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory at Horonobe, Japan. Our results indicate that fungi are the dominant eukaryotic flora in deep sedimentary rocks of Horonobe. We detected a wide range of species, including Zygomycete, Basidiomycete, and Ascomycete fungi from the rocks. This study is the first report of eukaryotic diversity in deep subsurface sedimentary rocks.

Verification of detailed core-bowing analysis code ARKAS_cellule with IAEA benchmark problems

Ota, Hirokazu*; Ohgama, Kazuya; Yamano, Hidemasa

Proceedings of International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference / Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference (Global/Top Fuel 2019) (USB Flash Drive), p.30 - 39, 2019/09

A Design study on a mixed oxide fuel sodium-cooled fast reactor core partially loading highly concentrated MA-containing metal fuel

Ohgama, Kazuya; Ota, Hirokazu*; Oki, Shigeo; Iizuka, Masatoshi*

Proceedings of 2019 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2019) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2019/05

A Study of the evaluation of the excavation damaged zone in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory, 1; Investigation in the 140 m gallery (Joint research)

Sugita, Yutaka; Aoyagi, Kazuhei; Kubota, Kenji*; Nakata, Eiji*; Oyama, Takahiro*

JAEA-Research 2018-002, 72 Pages, 2018/06

JAEA-Research-2018-002.pdf:6.16MB

In a excavation of shafts and galleries in the deep underground for disposing radioactive waste, an excavation damaged zone (EDZ) is developed around the galleries and shafts owing to the stress redistribution. Since the characteristic changes of the rock mass in the EDZ affects the radionuclides migration behavior, it is important to understand the long-term behavior of the EDZ. Thus, we performed the in situ experiment to investigate the long-term behavior of EDZ as part of the collaborative research between Japan Atomic Energy Agency and Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry in the 140m gallery in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory. In this research, we investigated the extent, mechanism of the change of hydro-mechanical characteristic, and long-term behavior of the EDZ on the basis of the comprehensive estimation of the results of the observation of the drift wall and the various investigations using boreholes such as geological investigation, the seismic and resistivity tomography, hydraulic test, water content monitoring, borehole loading test, convergence measurement, and so on. In addition, we clarified applicability and future tasks of the testing method used in this research for the investigation of the long-term behavior of the EDZ.

Investigation of the excavation disturbed zone due to the excavation of horizontal galleries; Study in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory

Kubota, Kenji*; Aoyagi, Kazuhei; Sugita, Yutaka

Koeki Shadan Hojin Butsuri Tansa Gakkai Dai-138-Kai (Heisei-30-Nendo Shuki) Gakujutsu Koenkai Koen Rombunshu, p.51 - 54, 2018/05

In an excavation of shafts and galleries in the deep underground for disposing high level radioactive waste, an excavation disturbed zone (EdZ) or excavation damaged zone (EDZ) is developed around the shafts and galleries owing to the stress redistribution. It is important to understand the behavior of the EdZ or EDZ because these zone could have an effect on the transfer behavior of radioactive nuclide. Therefore, the authors performed the in situ experiment to investigate the behavior of EdZ or EDZ in the 140m and 250m gallery in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory. From the result of the experiments, the authors compared the characteristics of EdZ or EDZ between those in 140m and 250m gallery. The extent of the fractures induced by the gallery excavation, i.e., EDZ was about 0.45m in the 140m gallery and about 1m in the 250m gallery. The extent of the unsaturated zones related with EdZ was about 1m in the 140m gallery, however, unsaturated zone was not appeared in the 250m gallery.

Characterization study of four candidate technologies for nuclear material quantification in fuel debris at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Nagatani, Taketeru; Komeda, Masao; Shiba, Tomooki; Nauchi, Yasushi*; Maeda, Makoto; Sagara, Hiroshi*; Kosuge, Yoshihiro*; Kureta, Masatoshi; Tomikawa, Hirofumi; Okumura, Keisuke; et al.

Energy Procedia, 131, p.258 - 263, 2017/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.09.447

A Study of the evaluation of the excavation damaged zone in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory, 2; Investigation in the 250 m gallery (Joint research)

Aoyagi, Kazuhei; Kubota, Kenji*; Nakata, Eiji*; Suenaga, Hiroshi*; Nohara, Shintaro*

JAEA-Research 2017-004, 91 Pages, 2017/06

JAEA-Research-2017-004.pdf:6.07MB

In this study, we performed seismic tomography, seismic refraction survey, resistivity tomography, and hydraulic tests to investigate the hydro-mechanical property of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) in the 250 m gallery of the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory. As a result of seismic tomography, seismic velocity is significantly decreased within 1 m from the gallery wall. The decrease of seismic velocity is related to the density of fracture induced around the gallery wall as a result of the gallery excavation. Thus the extent of the fractures induced by gallery excavation, i.e., EDZ fractures is clarified to be within 1.0 m from the gallery wall. The enhanced hydraulic conductivity was detected within 0.5 to 1.0 m from the gallery wall on the basis of the result of hydraulic tests. This is almost consistent with the extent of the region that seismic velocity is significantly decreased. Therefore, it is estimated that EDZ fractures induced around the gallery leads to the increase of hydraulic conductivity. In addition, the desaturation zone around the gallery is not induced as a result of resistivity tomography. From these results, the hydro-mechanical property of the EDZ is clarified in detail. Also, the in situ tests and evaluation method applied in this study are appropriate to investigate the EDZ in detail.

Activities of Working Group on Verification of PASCAL; Fiscal year 2015

Li, Y.; Hayashi, Shotaro*; Itabashi, Yu*; Nagai, Masaki*; Kanto, Yasuhiro*; Suzuki, Masahide*; Masaki, Koichi*

JAEA-Review 2017-005, 80 Pages, 2017/03

JAEA-Review-2017-005.pdf:16.85MB

For the improvement of the structural integrity assessment methodology on reactor pressure vessels (RPVs), the probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) analysis code PASCAL has been developed and improved in JAEA based on latest knowledge. The PASCAL code evaluates the failure probabilities and frequencies of Japanese RPVs under transient events such as pressurized thermal shock considering neutron irradiation embrittlement. In order to confirm the reliability of the PASCAL as a domestic standard code and to promote the application of PFM on the domestic structural integrity assessments of RPVs, it is important to verify the probabilistic variables, functions and models incorporated in the PASCAL and summarize the verification processes and results as a document. On the basis of these backgrounds, we established a working group, composed of experts on this field besides the developers, on the verification of the PASCAL3 which is a PFM analysis module of PASCAL, and the source program of PASCAL3 was released to the members of working group. Through one year activities, the applicability of PASCAL in structural integrity assessments of domestic RPVs was confirmed with great confidence. This report summarizes the activities of the working group on the verification of PASCAL in FY2015.

Cross-checking groundwater age by He and C dating in a granite, Tono area, central Japan

Hasegawa, Takuma*; Nakata, Kotaro*; Tomioka, Yuichi*; Goto, Kazuyuki*; Kashiwaya, Koki*; Hama, Katsuhiro; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Kunimaru, Takanori*; Takeda, Masaki

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 192, p.166 - 185, 2016/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.07.013

Groundwater dating was performed simultaneously by the He and C methods in granite of the Tono area in central Japan. Groundwater was sampled at 30 packed-off sections of six 1000-m boreholes. He concentrations increased and C concentrations decreased along a groundwater flow path on a topographic gradient. He ages were calculated by using the in situ He production rate derived from the porosity, density, and U and Th content of the rock, neglecting external flux. The linear relation between the He ages and the noncorrected C ages, except in the discharge area. Simultaneous measurements make it feasible to estimate the accumulation rate of He and initial dilution of C, which cannot be done with a single method. Cross-checking groundwater dating has the potential to provide more reliable groundwater ages.