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At least 1,495 records · Page 83

Method for separating FEL output beams from long wavelength radiation

A method for improving the output beam quality of a free electron laser (FEL) by reducing the amount of emission at wavelengths longer than the electron pulse length and reducing the amount of edge radiation. A mirror constructed of thermally conductive material and having an aperture therein is placed at an oblique angle with respect to the beam downstream of the bending magnet but before any sensitive use of the FEL beam. The aperture in the mirror is sized to deflect emission longer than the wavelength of the FEL output while having a minor impact on the FEL output beam. A properly sized aperture will enable the FEL radiation, which is coherent and generally at a much shorter wavelength than the bending radiations, to pass through the aperture mirror. The much higher divergence bending radiations will subsequently strike the aperture mirror and be reflected safely out of the way.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Method and apparatus for recirculation with control of synchrotron radiation

A method for controlling beam quality degradation from ISR and CSR and stabilizing the microbunching instability (.mu.BI) in a high brightness electron beam. The method includes providing a super-periodic second order achromat line with each super period being individually linearly achromatic and isochronous, setting individual superperiod tunes to rational fractions of an integer (such as 4.sup.th or 6.sup.th integers), setting individual bend angles to be as small as practical to reduce driving terms due to dispersion and dispersive angle, and setting bend radii as large enough to suppress ISR but not negatively affect the radial dependence of CSR. The method includes setting the structure of the individual superperiods to minimize bend plane beam envelope values in the dipoles to reduce betatron response to a CSR event at a dispersed location, increasing beam angular divergence, and creating dispersion nodes in the dipoles to similarly reduce response to CSR events, and limit R.sub.56 modulation in order to mitigate .mu.BI.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Overview of Lattice Design and Evaluation for the APS Upgrade

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) is a 7-GeV synchrotron light source that has been in operation since 1996. Since that time, the effective emittance has been decreased from 8 nm to 3.1 nm, which is very competitive for a 3rd-generation light source. However, newer facilities such as PETRA-III, NSLS-II, and MAX-IV are pushing the emittance to significantly smaller values. MAX-IV in particular has set the current benchmark with an emittance of about 300 pm at 3 GeV. This was accomplished by use of a multi-bend achromat lattice, which takes advantage of the 1/M3 scaling of the emittance with respect to the number of dipoles M. In order to ensure that our facility remains competitive, APS is pursuing a major upgrade, which involves replacement of the existing double-bend lattice with a seven-bend achromat lattice, promising a 40-fold reduction in emittance. This paper describes the process of developing and evaluating candidate lattice designs. Two candidate 6-GeV lattices are described: one providing a natural emittance of 67 pm and the other providing 41 pm. Our analysis includes single-particle dynamics as well as single- and multi-bunch collective effects.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Hydraulic performance evaluation of rod bundle with a concept spacer grid design

In a pressurized water reactor the spacer grid has a great influence on the thermal-hydraulic and mechanical properties of the fuel assembly. In order to improve the overall performance of the fuel assembly, a new concept spacer grid design names CATF with 'non-bending' guide vane is proposed. The hydraulic performance of the CATF grid design is evaluated by using a commercially computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, ANSYS CFX12.1, and the evaluation result is compared with ordinary spacer grid including bending guide vane. Three dimensional rod bundles including CATF spacer grid and ordinary spacer grid have been simulated. The analysis results show that local resistance coefficient of CATF spacer grid is smaller than that of ordinary spacer grid by about 29.7% because of the non-bending guide vanes. Furthermore, the cross flow strength between subchannels near the outer strap area, the swirl strength and cross flow strength in subchannels near the outer strap area in 1-10 times hydraulic diameter downstream the spacer grid area of the ordinary grid, are larger than that of CATF spacer grid. The two types of spacer grids appear to have the same mixing characteristics in inner-grid area. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Considerations for Thermal Annealing of Zr-Alloy Cladding During Dry Storage

In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored a technical workshop with fuel vendors that provided a forum for increased collaboration on backend fuel cycle research. The workshop reviewed observations of thermal annealing of irradiated zirconium alloys in simulated dry storage conditions and discussed implications to the industry’s interest in reducing wet storage to optimize operational flexibility and the expected trend of increasing discharge burnup (and decay heats), which could lead to an increase in dry storage temperatures. One approach to accommodate increased decay heats in dry storage is to increase the regulatory temperature limit during dry storage, which is now 400°C. However, this could lead to thermal annealing of the cladding, which will tend to increase creep rates, creep strains, and ductility while decreasing yield strength. These considerations are compounded by bonding between the pellet and cladding at high burnup, which results in the pellet carrying more load during fuel rod deformations, especially in bending, which is the dominant deformation phenomenon in canister drop analyses. Because the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recommends yield strength as a primary failure criterion for accident analyses in storage and transportation, particularly for canister drop scenarios, the purpose of the workshop was to develop options for alternative failure criterion that could replace yield strength in canister drop analyses. Topics discussed were (1) the regulatory framework, (2) the effect of thermal annealing on microhardness and tensile properties of cladding materials, (3) the effect of thermal annealing on fuel rod failure during bending, bending fatigue, and pinch loading, and (4) an alternative failure criterion for canister drop analyses. This paper provides a summary of the key discussions and outcomes of the workshop

Cantonwine, Paul [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000522247033)↗

Mechanical Properties of Irradiated U-10 wt. %Mo Alloy Degraded by Porosity Development

In this study, a plate-type nuclear fuel consisting of a solid monolithic foil of U-10 wt. %Mo is under development for use in the United States' high-performance research reactors. In support of developing this fuel, the fuel has been fabricated for the first time by a commercial fuel vendor and subsequently irradiated in a test reactor. This provides an opportunity to evaluate postirradiation mechanical properties of the commercially fabricated fuel. Four-point bend testing was conducted on the irradiated U-10Mo samples to generate the fuel material properties, including the modulus of elasticity and the bending strength. Although the material behaves in a brittle manner due to the accumulated porosity, a general trend of strength and modulus reduction was found as fission density increases. The data produced was evaluated using both Weibull statistics and a modulus degradation model with recommendations provided.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

An elastography method based on the scanning contact resonance of a piezoelectric cantilever

Purpose: Most tissues may become significantly stiffer than their normal states when there are lesions inside. The tissue's modulus can then act as an identification parameter for clinic diagnosis of tumors or fibrosis, which leads to elastography. This study introduces a novel elastography method that can be used for modulus imaging of superficial organs. Methods: This method is based on the scanning contact-resonance of a unimorph piezoelectric cantilever. The cantilever vibrates in its bending mode with the tip pressed tightly on the sample. The contact resonance frequency of the cantilever-sample system is tracked at each scanning point, from which the sample's modulus can be derived based on a beam dynamic model and a contact mechanics model. Scanning is performed by a three-dimensional motorized stage and the whole system is controlled by a homemade software program based on LabVIEW. Results: Testing onin vitro beef tissues indicates that the fat and the muscle can be easily distinguished using this system, and the accuracy of the modulus measurement can be comparable with that of nanoindentation. Imaging on homemade gelatin phantoms shows that the depth information of the abnormalities can be qualitatively obtained by varying the pressing force. The detection limit of this elastography method is specially examined both experimentally and numerically. Results show that it can detect the typical lesions in superficial organs with the depth of several centimeters. The lateral resolution of this elastography method/system is better than 0.5 mm, and could be further enhanced by using more scanning points. Conclusions: The proposed elastography system can be regarded as a sensitive palpation robot, which may be very promising in early diagnosis of tumors in superficial organs such as breast and thyroid.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

FY 2016 Status Report: CIRFT Testing Data Analyses and Updated Curvature Measurements

This report provides a detailed description of FY15 test result corrections/analysis based on the FY16 Cyclic Integrated Reversible-Bending Fatigue Tester (CIRFT) test program methodology update used to evaluate the vibration integrity of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) under normal transportation conditions. The CIRFT consists of a U-frame testing setup and a real-time curvature measurement method. The three-component U-frame setup of the CIRFT has two rigid arms and linkages to a universal testing machine. The curvature of rod bending is obtained through a three-point deflection measurement method. Three linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) are used and clamped to the side connecting plates of the U-frame to capture the deformation of the rod. The contact-based measurement, or three-LVDT-based curvature measurement system, on SNF rods has been proven to be quite reliable in CIRFT testing. However, how the LVDT head contacts the SNF rod may have a significant effect on the curvature measurement, depending on the magnitude and direction of rod curvature. It has been demonstrated that the contact/curvature issues can be corrected by using a correction on the sensor spacing. The sensor spacing defines the separation of the three LVDT probes and is a critical quantity in calculating the rod curvature once the deflections are obtained. The sensor spacing correction can be determined by using chisel-type probes. The method has been critically examined this year and has been shown to be difficult to implement in a hot cell environment, and thus cannot be implemented effectively. A correction based on the proposed equivalent gauge-length has the required flexibility and accuracy and can be appropriately used as a correction factor. The correction method based on the equivalent gauge length has been successfully demonstrated in CIRFT data analysis for the dynamic tests conducted on Limerick (LMK) (17 tests), North Anna (NA) (6 tests), and Catawba mixed oxide (MOX) (10 tests) SNF samples. These CIRFT tests were completed in FY14 and FY15. Specifically, the data sets obtained from measurement and monitoring were processed and analyzed. The fatigue life of rods has been characterized in terms of moment, curvature, and equivalent stress and strain..

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Microscale Constitutive Model Sensitivity on Multiscale Modeling of Fiber Reinforced Composites

Fiber reinforced composites are desirable in applications where low weight and high strength are needed, but are susceptible to microscale variability during manufacturing, making failure predictions difficult. The impact microscale variability has on macroscale mechanical response is difficult to predict due to the computational efficiency needed to simulate many, large, high fidelity, microscale models. In this study, a multiscale approach was taken to model 3-point bend, 4-point bend, and tensile experiments of a unidirectional composite from only having microstructure scans of these samples and constituent properties from literature. These scans were sampled with different sized windows, and statistically equivalent microstructures were generated, then simulated for stiffness, strength, and fracture toughness using an efficient micromechanical. Mesoscale models were created where element sizes equaled microstructure size, and properties were assigned through sampling of microscale simulation results. First, this study showed the effect of using Weibull scaling on constituent matrix strength on macroscale response. Then, a comparison was made between different element sizes and experiments. Finally, model dimensions were fixed, and the effect of randomly distributed local properties alone was examined. Results showed that the scatter of strength and stiffness in the experiments could be predicted well using images of the microscale fiber morphologies and that using stochastic properties produced a 3% coefficient of variation of strength for all experiments.

statistical microstructure↗

Generalization of the Cauchy–Poisson Method and the Construction of Timoshenko-Type Equations

We consider a generalization of the Cauchy–Poisson method to the n-dimensional Euclidean space and its application to the construction of hyperbolic approximations. The presented investigation generalizes and supplements the results obtained earlier. In the Euclidean space, we introduce certain restrictions for the derivatives. The principle of hyperbolic degeneracy in terms of parameters is formulated and its realization in the form of necessary and sufficient conditions is presented. In a special case of fourdimensional space (in which the operators are preserved up to the sixth order), we obtain a generalized hyperbolic equation for the bending vibrations of plates with coefficients that depend only on the Poisson ratio. This equation includes, as special cases, the well-known Bernoulli–Euler, Kirchhoff, Rayleigh, and Timoshenko equations. As the development of Maxwell's and Einstein's investigations of the propagation of perturbations with finite velocity in continuous media, we can mention the nontrivial construction of Timoshenko’s equation for the bending vibrations of a beam.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Worst crosstalk analysis in heterogeneous and trench assisted heterogeneous multicore fiber for different core counts and layouts

In order to obtain appreciably low worst crosstalk level in high core count multicore fiber, heterogeneous MCF with different core configurations and layouts have been investigated analytically using coupled mode equation. The variations in worst crosstalk behavior with respect to the bending radius, core configurations, core layouts, and outer cladding thickness have been analyzed. Further, the core count dependent variations in worst crosstalk level, core pitch, and peak bending radius in different core layouts have been presented. It has been observed that the selection of core configuration, core layout, and outer cladding thickness have significant impact on the reduction in worst crosstalk level. For example, in 12-core normal-index heterogeneous MCF with SLS structure, the core Configuration 1 can provide the worst crosstalk level reduced by 7.09 dB and 16.92 dB in comparison to the other two core configurations, i.e., Configuration 2, and Configuration 3, respectively. Further, for the same core count with TA Configuration 1, SLS core layout can achieve the reduced worst crosstalk level in comparison with circular ORS and DRS, hexagonal ORS and DRS respectively by 24.62 dB, 25.86 dB, 28.87 dB and 30.64 dB.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Mechanical Properties and Interface Evaluation of Al/AZ31 Multilayer Composites Produced by ARB at Different Rolling Temperatures

Many researchers have studied the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al/Mg composites rolled at a unique temperature; however, the effect of rolling temperature, which is one of the more decisive accumulative roll bonding (ARB) parameters, has not been investigated. In this work, laminated Al/Mg composites were fabricated by ARB at different temperatures using AZ31 magnesium alloy and commercially pure aluminum sheets. The microstructure of the layers and the mechanical properties of the rolled Al/AZ31 composites were investigated. Tensile and bending properties of the multilayer materials were examined by tensile and three-point bending tests. The results showed that mechanical bonding of the layers was improved with increasing rolling temperature. As a result, the intermediate rolling temperature (300 °C) indicated the best mechanical properties. Moreover, hot rolling caused an accelerated formation of intermetallic compounds.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of Prestrain on the Fatigue Life of Superelastic Nitinol

Three types of fatigue testing are performed to elucidate the effects of prestraining superelastic Nitinol on its subsequent fatigue lifetime: rotary bending and tension–tension testing of wire, and beam bending using diamond-shaped specimens fabricated from tubing. Results show that local plastic deformation during prestraining induces residual stresses that have a pronounced effect on fatigue performance, enhancing performance when the fatigue duty cycle is of the same sense as the prestraining (tensile prestraining followed by a tensile duty cycle, for example), and decreasing fatigue lifetime when the sense of the duty cycle is opposite to that of prestraining. This provides an avenue to increasing fatigue lifetime, but more importantly it highlights the need to fully understand the nature of the duty cycle: for example, prestraining a stent by crimping it into a delivery catheter induces favorable residual stresses with respect to subsequent pulsatile fatigue, but might accelerate fracture in other modes, such as axial or crush fatigue. Caution is also advised when trying to apply data from “constant life diagrams” derived from the literature (Ref 1, 2 for example) that may not properly reflect the strain history of the device being analyzed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A triangular loop of domain D1 of FlgE is essential for hook assembly but not for the mechanical function

Highlights: • The hook protein FlgE assembles into a curved tubular structure with the help of the FlgD cap. • The flagellar hook acts as a universal joint to smoothly transmit torque produced by the flagellar motor to the filament. • FlgE consists of four domains, D0, Dc, D1 and D2. • Genetic analysis suggests that a loop of domain D1 (D1-loop) is responsible for the interaction with FlgD. • A deletion of the D1-loop or domain D2 makes the hook straight but does not affect the bending flexibility of the hook. The bacterial flagellar hook is a short, curved tubular structure made of FlgE. The hook connects the basal body as a rotary motor and the filament as a helical propeller and functions as a universal joint to smoothly transmit torque produced by the motor to the filament. Salmonella FlgE consists of D0, Dc, D1 and D2 domains. Axial interactions between a triangular loop of domain D1 (D1-loop) and domain D2 are postulated to be responsible for hook supercoiling. In contrast, Bacillus FlgE lacks the D1-loop and domain D2. Here, to clarify the roles of the D1-loop and domain D2 in the mechanical function, we carried out deletion analysis of Salmonella FlgE. A deletion of the D1-loop conferred a loss-of-function phenotype whereas that of domain D2 did not. The D1-loop deletion inhibited hook polymerization. Suppressor mutations of the D1-loop deletion was located within FlgD, which acts as the hook cap to promote hook assembly. This suggests a possible interaction between the D1-loop of FlgE and FlgD. Suppressor mutant cells produced straight hooks, but retained the ability to form a flagellar bundle behind a cell body, suggesting that the loop deletion does not affect the bending flexibility of the Salmonella hook.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Improved the microstructures and properties of M3:2 high-speed steel by spray forming and niobium alloying

The microstructures and properties of spray formed (SF) high-speed steels (HSSs) with or without niobium (Nb) addition were studied. Particular emphasis was placed on the effect of Nb on the solidification microstructures, decomposition of M{sub 2}C carbides, thermal stability and mechanical properties. The results show that spray forming can refine the cell size of eutectic carbides due to the rapid cooling effect during atomization. With Nb addition, further refinement of the eutectic carbides and primary austenite grains are obtained. Moreover, the Nb addition can accelerate the decomposition of M{sub 2}C carbides and increase the thermal stability of high-speed steel, and also can improve the hardness and bending strength with slightly decrease the impact toughness. The high-speed steel made by spray forming and Nb alloying can give a better tool performance compared with powder metallurgy M3:2 and commercial AISI M2 high-speed steels. - Highlights: • Spray forming can effectively refine the microstructure of M3:2 steel. • Niobium accelerates the decomposition of M{sub 2}C carbides. • Niobium increases the hardness and bending strength of spray formed M3:2 steel. • Spray-formed niobium-containing M3:2 steel has the best tool performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Surface integrity and fatigue behaviour of electric discharged machined and milled austenitic stainless steel

Machining of austenitic stainless steels can result in different surface integrities and different machining process parameters will have a great impact on the component fatigue life. Understanding how machining processes affect the cyclic behaviour and microstructure are of outmost importance in order to improve existing and new life estimation models. Milling and electrical discharge machining (EDM) have been used to manufacture rectangular four-point bend fatigue test samples; subjected to high cycle fatigue. Before fatigue testing, surface integrity characterisation of the two surface conditions was conducted using scanning electron microscopy, surface roughness, residual stress profiles, and hardness profiles. Differences in cyclic behaviour were observed between the two surface conditions by the fatigue testing. The milled samples exhibited a fatigue limit. EDM samples did not show the same behaviour due to ratcheting. Recrystallized nano sized grains were identified at the severely plastically deformed surface of the milled samples. Large amounts of bent mechanical twins were observed ~ 5 μm below the surface. Grain shearing and subsequent grain rotation from milling bent the mechanical twins. EDM samples showed much less plastic deformation at the surface. Surface tensile residual stresses of ~ 500 MPa and ~ 200 MPa for the milled and EDM samples respectively were measured. - Highlights: •Milled samples exhibit fatigue behaviour, but not EDM samples. •Four-point bending is not suitable for materials exhibiting pronounced ratcheting. •LAGB density can be used to quantitatively measure plastic deformation. •Grain shearing and rotation result in bent mechanical twins. •Nano sized grains evolve due to the heat of the operation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Measuring residual stress in Ti-6Al-4V with HR-EBSD, using reference patterns from annealed material

In this study, elastic strain and residual stress values in an engineering material were determined by high-resolution EBSD (HR-EBSD) using reference patterns from annealed, recrystallized material. Specifically, rolled Ti-6Al-4V sheet was analyzed using HR EBSD in both an as-annealed and a strained state, the latter established via a static two-point bend fixture. The commercial software CrossCourt4 (CC4) was used to evaluate the relative intragranular strain tensor components of the alpha grains mapped by HR-EBSD. The intragranular reference patterns identified in each grain by the software were then replaced with similarly-oriented patterns from scans of the as-annealed, recrystallized material. The CC4 analysis was then repeated to provide calibrated strain and residual stress values. Elastic strains on the order of 10–3 were detected, with corresponding residual stress values on the order of 1 GPa. Subsequent analyses using high energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction showed good correlation with the elastic strains measured by HR-EBSD using the annealed reference patterns. Additionally, the maximum macroscopic stress analytically predicted for two-point bending was in agreement with the residual stress observed. Good repeatability of the methodology and insight into the state of individual grains were also observed. The findings provide encouraging evidence that accurate intragranular and long-range residual stress measurements of engineering significance can be made with HR-EBSD using a physical reference pattern library.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗