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At least 1,315 records · Page 73

Unconfined Compression Results on Core from Borehole U-15n#10, NNSS, in support of SPE

The Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) serves as the geologic setting for a Source Physics Experiment (SPE) program. The SPE provides ground truth data to create and improve strong ground motion and seismic S-wave generation and propagation models. The NNSS was chosen as the test bed because it provides a variety of geologic settings ranging from relatively simple to very complex. Each series of SPE testing will comprise the setting and firing of explosive charges (source) placed in a central borehole at varying depths and recording ground motions in instrumented boreholes located in two rings around the source, positioned at different radii. Modeling using advanced simulation codes will be performed both before and after each test to predict ground response and to improve models based on acquired field data, respectively. A key component in the predictive capability and ultimate validation of the models is the full understanding of the intervening geology between the source and the instrumented boreholes including the geomechanical behavior of the site's rock/structural features. This memorandum reports on an initial phase of unconfined compression testing from corehole U-15n#10. Specimens tested came from the U-15n#10 core hole, which was drilled at -60° to the horizontal in granitic rock (quartz monzonite) after the second SPE shot (SPE-2). Figure 1 illustrates at the surface, the core hole was approximately 90 feet from the central SPE borehole. Corehole U 15n#10 intersects the central SPE borehole (U-15n) at a core depth of 170 feet (approximately 150 feet vertical depth) which is within the highly damaged zone of SPE-2. The U-15n#10 location is the site of the first, second and third SPE's, in Area 15 of the NNSS.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Mechanical Testing Results on Core from Borehole U-15n, NNSS, in support of SPE

The Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) will serve as the geologic setting for a Source Physics Experiment (SPE) program. The SPE will provide ground truth data to create and improve strong ground motion and seismic S-wave generation and propagation models. The NNSS was chosen as the test bed because it provides a variety of geologic settings ranging from relatively simple to very complex. Each series of SPE testing will comprise the setting and firing of explosive charges (source) placed in a central bore hole at varying depths and recording ground motions in instrumented bore holes located in two rings around the source positioned at different radii. Modeling using advanced simulation codes will be performed both a priori and after each test to predict ground response and to improve models based on acquired field data, respectively. A key component in the predictive capability and ultimate validation of the models is the full understanding of the intervening geology between the source and the instrumented bore holes including the geomechanical behavior of the site rock/structural features. This report presents a limited scope of work for an initial phase of primarily unconfined compression testing. Samples tested came from the U-15n core hole, which was drilled in granitic rock (quartz monzonite). The core hole was drilled at the location of the central SPE borehole, and thus represents material in which the explosive charges will be detonated. The U-15n location is the site of the first SPE, in Area 15 of the NNSS.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Advances in the computation of the Sjöstrand, Rossi, and Feynman distributions

This study illustrates recent computational advances in the application of the Sjöstrand (area), Rossi, and Feynman methods to estimate the effective multiplication factor of a subcritical system driven by an external neutron source. The methodologies introduced in this study have been validated with the experimental results from the KUKA facility of Japan by Monte Carlo (MCNP6 and MCNPX) and deterministic (ERANOS, VARIANT, and PARTISN) codes. When the assembly is driven by a pulsed neutron source generated by a particle accelerator and delayed neutrons are at equilibrium, the Sjöstrand method becomes extremely fast if the integral of the reaction rate from a single pulse is split into two parts. These two integrals distinguish between the neutron counts during and after the pulse period. To conclude, when the facility is driven by a spontaneous fission neutron source, the timestamps of the detector neutron counts can be obtained up to the nanosecond precision using MCNP6, which allows obtaining the Rossi and Feynman distributions.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

TIME-DEPENDENT MULTI-GROUP MULTI-DIMENSIONAL RELATIVISTIC RADIATIVE TRANSFER CODE BASED ON SPHERICAL HARMONIC DISCRETE ORDINATE METHOD

We develop a time-dependent, multi-group, multi-dimensional relativistic radiative transfer code, which is required to numerically investigate radiation from relativistic fluids that are involved in, e.g., gamma-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei. The code is based on the spherical harmonic discrete ordinate method (SHDOM) which evaluates a source function including anisotropic scattering in spherical harmonics and implicitly solves the static radiative transfer equation with ray tracing in discrete ordinates. We implement treatments of time dependence, multi-frequency bins, Lorentz transformation, and elastic Thomson and inelastic Compton scattering to the publicly available SHDOM code. Our code adopts a mixed-frame approach; the source function is evaluated in the comoving frame, whereas the radiative transfer equation is solved in the laboratory frame. This implementation is validated using various test problems and comparisons with the results from a relativistic Monte Carlo code. These validations confirm that the code correctly calculates the intensity and its evolution in the computational domain. The code enables us to obtain an Eddington tensor that relates the first and third moments of intensity (energy density and radiation pressure) and is frequently used as a closure relation in radiation hydrodynamics calculations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

FISPACT-II: An Advanced Simulation System for Activation, Transmutation and Material Modelling

Fispact-II is a code system and library database for modelling activation-transmutation processes, depletion-burn-up, time dependent inventory and radiation damage source terms caused by nuclear reactions and decays. The Fispact-II code, written in object-style Fortran, follows the evolution of material irradiated by neutrons, alphas, gammas, protons, or deuterons, and provides a wide range of derived radiological output quantities to satisfy most needs for nuclear applications. It can be used with any ENDF-compliant group library data for nuclear reactions, particle-induced and spontaneous fission yields, and radioactive decay (including but not limited to TENDL-2015, ENDF/B-VII.1, JEFF-3.2, JENDL-4.0u, CENDL-3.1 processed into fine-group-structure files, GEFY-5.2 and UKDD-16), as well as resolved and unresolved resonance range probability tables for self-shielding corrections and updated radiological hazard indices. The code has many novel features including: extension of the energy range up to 1 GeV; additional neutron physics including self-shielding effects, temperature dependence, thin and thick target yields; pathway analysis; and sensitivity and uncertainty quantification and propagation using full covariance data. The latest ENDF libraries such as TENDL encompass thousands of target isotopes. Nuclear data libraries for Fispact-II are prepared from these using processing codes PREPRO, NJOY and CALENDF. These data include resonance parameters, cross sections with covariances, probability tables in the resonance ranges, PKA spectra, kerma, dpa, gas and radionuclide production and energy-dependent fission yields, supplemented with all 27 decay types. All such data for the five most important incident particles are provided in evaluated data tables. The Fispact-II simulation software is described in detail in this paper, together with the nuclear data libraries. The Fispact-II system also includes several utility programs for code-use optimisation, visualisation and production of secondary radiological quantities. Included in the paper are summaries of results from the suite of verification and validation reports available with the code.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

TORONE: Total Characterisation by Remote Observation of Nuclear Environments - 20591

This paper describes the autonomous robotic systems developed in the TORONE project (Total Characterisation by Remote Observation of Nuclear Environments) for combined characterisation by remote techniques in nuclear environments. There are four main components to the system. Firstly, robot operation which uses a Robot Operating System (ROS) allowing ease of communication between hardware and software alongside robot vision systems such as Lidar and/or photogrammetry. Secondly, radiation detection instrumentation for gamma and neutron sources which is also collimated for spatial resolution. Thirdly, photonic characterisation instrumentation for remote material identification by means of Raman spectroscopy and Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Finally, a data management system is described which contains the TORONE characterisation data with the ability to overlay material characterisation information onto 3D maps of the nuclear environment. Preliminary results are described alongside discussion of some of the synergies of the combined approach. There are many applications of such an autonomous system in nuclear decommissioning, waste management and asset management. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

SHarmonic: A fast and accurate implementation of spherical harmonics for electronic-structure calculations

The authors present SHarmonic, a new implementation of the spherical harmonics targeted for electronic-structure calculations. Their approach is to use explicit formulas for the harmonics written in terms of normalized Cartesian coordinates. This approach results in a code that is as precise as other implementations while being at least one order of magnitude more computationally efficient. The library can run on graphics processing units as well, achieving an additional order of magnitude in execution speed. This new implementation is simple to use and is provided under an open-source license; it can be readily used by other codes to avoid the error-prone and cumbersome implementation of the spherical harmonics.

Mathematics and Computing↗

Simulation of energy absorption spectrum in NaI crystal detector for multiple gamma energy using Monte Carlo method

The spectrum of gamma energy absorption in the NaI crystal (scintillation detector) is the interaction result of gamma photon with NaI crystal, and it’s associated with the photon gamma energy incoming to the detector. Through a simulation approach, we can perform an early observation of gamma energy absorption spectrum in a scintillator crystal detector (NaI) before the experiment conducted. In this paper, we present a simulation model result of gamma energy absorption spectrum for energy 100-700 keV (i.e. 297 keV, 400 keV and 662 keV). This simulation developed based on the concept of photon beam point source distribution and photon cross section interaction with the Monte Carlo method. Our computational code has been successfully predicting the multiple energy peaks absorption spectrum, which derived from multiple photon energy sources.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Calculation of neutron and gamma fluxes in support to the interpretation of measuring devices irradiated in the core periphery of the OSIRIS Material Testing Reactor

Technological irradiations carried out in material testing reactors (MTRs) are used to study the behavior of materials under irradiation conditions required by different types of nuclear power plants (NPPs). For MTRs, specific instrumentation is required for the experiment monitoring and for the characterization of irradiation conditions, in particular the flux of neutrons and photons. To measure neutron and photon flux in experimental locations, different sensors can be used, such as SPNDs (self-powered neutron detectors), SPGDs (self-powered gamma detectors) and ionization chambers. These sensors involve interactions producing ultimately a measurable electric current. Various sensors have been recently tested in the core periphery of the OSIRIS reactor (located at the CEA-Saclay center) in order to qualify their responses to the neutron and the photon flux. One of the key input data for this qualification is to have a relevant evaluation of neutron and gamma fluxes at the irradiation location. The objective of this work is to evaluate the neutron and the gamma flux in the core periphery of the OSIRIS reactor. With this intention, specific neutron-photonic three-dimensional calculations have been performed and are mainly based on the TRIPOLI-4{sup R} three-dimensional continuous-energy Monte Carlo code, developed by CEA (Saclay Center) and extensively validated against reactor dosimetry benchmarks. In the case of the OSIRIS reactor, TRIPOLI-4{sup R} code has been validated against experimental results based on neutron flux and nuclear heating measurements performed in ex-core and in-core experiments. In this work, simultaneous contribution of neutrons and gamma photons in the core periphery is considered using neutron-photon coupled transport calculations. Contributions of prompt and decay photons have been taken into account for the gamma flux calculation. Specific depletion codes are used upstream to provide the decay-gamma sources required by TRIPOLI-4 calculations. In this paper, the neutron-photonic calculation scheme used for the neutron-gamma flux evaluation in the OSIRIS core periphery will be first detailed. Then, a comparison of calculated and measured values of neutron and gamma fluxes will be introduced. (author)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Numerical Simulation of Isothermal Flow Across Slant Five-Tube Bundle with Spectral Element Method Code Nek5000

The helical coil steam generator (HCSG) is a specific type of shell-and-tube heat exchanger known for having a higher heat transfer coefficient than many other designs. For this reason, they are considered in small modular reactor and high temperature reactor designs. Investigation of flow behavior in HCSGs is important for better design. In this paper we present our study for modeling the coolant flow in the primary side of the HCSG. We used Nek5000, an open source, high-order spectral element computational fluid dynamics code developed in Argonne National Laboratory. Nek5000 accepts only hexahedral mesh, which makes the meshing process for the complicated HCSG geometry very challenging. A tetrahedral-to-hexahedral meshing strategy was applied to bypass the geometric complexities. In this study large eddy simulation (LES) was performed at the Reynolds number of 9000 based on the inlet velocity and the tube diameter. The employed subgrid-scale model for LES relies on explicit filtering. First- and second-order statistics were compared to available experimental data. We report overall velocity and turbulent kinetic energy showed good agreement with particle image velocimetry data.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Data Collection Handbook to Support Modeling Impacts of Radioactive Material in Soil and Building Structures

This handbook is an update of the 1993 version of the Data Collection Handbook and the Radionuclide Transfer Factors Report to support modeling the impact of radioactive material in soil. Many new parameters have been added to the RESRAD Family of Codes, and new measurement methodologies are available. A detailed review of available parameter databases was conducted in preparation of this new handbook. This handbook is a companion document to the user manuals when using the RESRAD (onsite) and RESRAD-OFFSITE code. It can also be used for RESRAD-BUILD code because some of the building-related parameters are included in this handbook. The RESRAD (onsite) has been developed for implementing U.S. Department of Energy Residual Radioactive Material Guidelines. Hydrogeological, meteorological, geochemical, geometrical (size, area, depth), crops and livestock, human intake, source characteristic, and building characteristic parameters are used in the RESRAD (onsite) code. The RESRAD-OFFSITE code is an extension of the RESRAD (onsite) code and can also model the transport of radionuclides to locations outside the footprint of the primary contamination. This handbook discusses parameter definitions, typical ranges, variations, and measurement methodologies. It also provides references for sources of additional information. Although this handbook was developed primarily to support the application of RESRAD Family of Codes, the discussions and values are valid for use of other pathway analysis models and codes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Comparison of flat cleaved and cylindrical diffusing fibers as treatment sources for interstitial photodynamic therapy

Purpose: For interstitial photodynamic therapy (iPDT) of bulky tumors, careful treatment planning is required in order to ensure that a therapeutic dose is delivered to the tumor, while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissue. In clinical contexts, iPDT has typically been performed with either flat cleaved or cylindrical diffusing optical fibers as light sources. Here, the authors directly compare these two source geometries in terms of the number of fibers and duration of treatment required to deliver a prescribed light dose to a tumor volume. Methods: Treatment planning software for iPDT was developed based on graphics processing unit enhanced Monte Carlo simulations. This software was used to optimize the number of fibers, total energy delivered by each fiber, and the position of individual fibers in order to deliver a target light dose (D{sub 90}) to 90% of the tumor volume. Treatment plans were developed using both flat cleaved and cylindrical diffusing fibers, based on tissue volumes derived from CT data from a head and neck cancer patient. Plans were created for four cases: fixed energy per fiber, fixed number of fibers, and in cases where both or neither of these factors were fixed. Results: When the number of source fibers was fixed at eight, treatment plans based on flat cleaved fibers required each to deliver 7180–8080 J in order to deposit 90 J/cm{sup 2} in 90% of the tumor volume. For diffusers, each fiber was required to deliver 2270–2350 J (333–1178 J/cm) in order to achieve this same result. For the case of fibers delivering a fixed 900 J, 13 diffusers or 19 flat cleaved fibers at a spacing of 1 cm were required to deliver the desired dose. With energy per fiber fixed at 2400 J and the number of fibers fixed at eight, diffuser fibers delivered the desired dose to 93% of the tumor volume, while flat cleaved fibers delivered this dose to 79%. With both energy and number of fibers allowed to vary, six diffusers delivering 3485–3600 J were required, compared to ten flat cleaved fibers delivering 2780–3600 J. Conclusions: For the same number of fibers, cylindrical diffusers allow for a shorter treatment duration compared to flat cleaved fibers. For the same energy delivered per fiber, diffusers allow for the insertion of fewer fibers in order to deliver the same light dose to a target volume.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

CritView User’s Guide Rev. 2

This document serves as a user’s guide for the CritView code, version 1.05. It supersedes the previous revision (Rev. 1), which was applicable to version 1.04 of CritView. This release of CritView also includes version 1.09 of the database, which replaces version 1.08. The CritView code is used as an electronic equivalent of a nuclear criticality handbook (e.g., ARH-600). This code takes an electronic data library and allows the user to plot data as needed. This approach has two distinct advantages over a paper handbook. First, the database can be easily expanded to include additional data sources (e.g., other handbooks, configurations, or modeling techniques). Secondly, the code provides flexibility by allowing the user to easily change the units and parameters of the plots.

Finfrock, Scott H. [Savannah River Nuclear Solutio↗

Spherical time-encoded radiation imaging simulations

Radiation source localization is important for nuclear nonproliferation and can be obtained using time-encoded imaging systems with unsegmented detectors. A scintillation crystal can be used with a moving coded-aperture mask to vary the detected count rate produced from radiation sources in the far field. The modulation of observed counts over time can be used to reconstruct an image with the known coded-aperture mask pattern. Current time-encoded imaging systems incorporate cylindrical coded-aperture masks and have limits to their fully coded imaging field-of-view. This work focuses on expanding the field-of-view to 4π by using a novel spherical coded-aperture mask. A regular icosahedron is used to approximate a spherical mask. This icosahedron consists of 20 equilateral triangles; the faces of which are each subdivided into four equilateral triangle-shaped voxels which are then projected onto a spherical surface, creating an 80-voxel coded-aperture mask. Furthermore, these polygonal voxels can be made from high-Z materials for gamma-ray modulation and/or low-Z materials for neutron modulation. In this work, we present Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations and simple models programmed in Mathematica to explore image reconstruction capabilities of this 80-voxel coded-aperture mask.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Design Strategy for a Hot-Humid Production Builder

Building Science Corporation (BSC) worked directly with the David Weekley Homes - Houston division to develop a cost-effective design for moving the HVAC system into conditioned space. In addition, BSC conducted energy analysis to calculate the most economical strategy for increasing the energy performance of future production houses in preparation for the upcoming code changes in 2015. This research project addressed the following questions: 1. What is the most cost effective, best performing and most easily replicable method of locating ducts inside conditioned space for a hot-humid production home builder that constructs one and two story single family detached residences? 2. What is a cost effective and practical method of achieving 50% source energy savings vs. the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code for a hot-humid production builder? 3. How accurate are the pre-construction whole house cost estimates compared to confirmed post construction actual cost?

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Remote Radiation Sensing Using Aerial and Ground Platforms

Remote sensing of ionizing radiation has a significant role in waste management, nuclear material management and nonproliferation, and radiation safety. Robotic platforms can surpass the number of tasks that are achieved by humans. With this technique, the operator's radiation exposure can be decreased. Remote sensing allows for the evaluation and monitoring of radiological contamination. Gamma-ray and neutron sensors were integrated onto the robotic platforms. This approach allows for the radiation sensor data to be dynamically tracked and mapped thus enabling further analysis of the radiation flux in temporal and spatial domains. The goal is to complete scheduled tasks while the robot is being irradiated. To achieve this, electronic components must be shielded and radiation hardened. CZT Detector: Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detector technology has been a promising solution for gamma-ray and x-ray measurements. Detector data is transferred to the Odroid minicomputer that controls and powers the module via the USB. Robot Operating System (ROS) was utilized for data acquisition and data fusion. The Mariscotti method was employed for the spectrum analysis. A function was programmed in ROS for the automatic identification of photopeaks. CLYC Detector: A Cs{sub 2}LiYCl{sub 6}:Ce{sup 3+} (CLYC) detector was used for simultaneous medium-resolution gamma-ray measurements and neutron counting. A 2.54 cm diameter photomultiplier tube (PMT) was equipped with a high voltage supply and a miniature digitizer. Gamma-ray excitation: fast core-to-valence luminescence (CVL) with 1 ns decay constant, and prompt Ce{sup 3+} emission with 50 ns decay constant. Neutron excitation: slow cerium self-trapped excitation (Ce{sup 3+} STE), 1000 ns decay constant. Radiation Source Localization: Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and gradient-based methods were used to locate the position of a radiation source based on measured radiation intensities. Multi-Particle Transport Code FLUKA: Estimation of radiation damage of the electronic components is important in order to optimize the robot's operational time while it is irradiated. Displacement per atom (DPA) represents the radiation damage in materials exposed to the ionizing radiation. Various shielding layers of different thickness t were analyzed (< 5% statistical error). The model of the controller of the UAS was designed in FLUKA. Conclusion: CZT and CLYC detectors were integrated onto the robotic platforms. Radiation source localization and contour mapping using robotic platforms were studied. Functions for data analysis and fusion were developed in ROS. FLUKA code was utilized to analyze DPA values. Layers of low-density and high-density materials were used to shield the UAS electronics.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

HVAC Design Strategy for a Hot-Humid Production Builder, Houston, Texas (Fact Sheet)

BSC worked directly with the David Weekley Homes - Houston division to redesign three floor plans in order to locate the HVAC system in conditioned space. The purpose of this project is to develop a cost effective design for moving the HVAC system into conditioned space. In addition, BSC conducted energy analysis to calculate the most economical strategy for increasing the energy performance of future production houses. This is in preparation for the upcoming code changes in 2015. The builder wishes to develop an upgrade package that will allow for a seamless transition to the new code mandate. The following research questions were addressed by this research project: 1. What is the most cost effective, best performing and most easily replicable method of locating ducts inside conditioned space for a hot-humid production home builder that constructs one and two story single family detached residences? 2. What is a cost effective and practical method of achieving 50% source energy savings vs. the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code for a hot-humid production builder? 3. How accurate are the pre-construction whole house cost estimates compared to confirmed post construction actual cost? BSC and the builder developed a duct design strategy that employs a system of dropped ceilings and attic coffers for moving the ductwork from the vented attic to conditioned space. The furnace has been moved to either a mechanical closet in the conditioned living space or a coffered space in the attic.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Design Strategy for a Hot-Humid Production Builder

BSC worked directly with the David Weekley Homes - Houston division to redesign three floor plans in order to locate the HVAC system in conditioned space. The purpose of this project is to develop a cost effective design for moving the HVAC system into conditioned space. In addition, BSC conducted energy analysis to calculate the most economical strategy for increasing the energy performance of future production houses. This is in preparation for the upcoming code changes in 2015. The builder wishes to develop an upgrade package that will allow for a seamless transition to the new code mandate. The following research questions were addressed by this research project: 1. What is the most cost effective, best performing and most easily replicable method of locating ducts inside conditioned space for a hot-humid production home builder that constructs one and two story single family detached residences? 2. What is a cost effective and practical method of achieving 50% source energy savings vs. the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code for a hot-humid production builder? 3. How accurate are the pre-construction whole house cost estimates compared to confirmed post construction actual cost? BSC and the builder developed a duct design strategy that employs a system of dropped ceilings and attic coffers for moving the ductwork from the vented attic to conditioned space. The furnace has been moved to either a mechanical closet in the conditioned living space or a coffered space in the attic.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗