Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “DAMAGE”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,495 records · Page 83

Irradiation damage concurrent challenges with RAFM and ODS steels for fusion reactor first-wall/blanket: a review

Reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) and oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels are the most promising candidates for fusion first-wall/blanket (FW/B) structures. The performance of these steels will deteriorate during service due to neutron damage and transmutation-induced gases, such as helium/hydrogen, at elevated operating temperatures. Here, after highlighting the operating conditions of fusion reactor concepts and a brief overview, the main irradiation-induced degradation challenges associated with RAFM/ODS steels are discussed. Their long-term degradation scenarios such as (a) low-temperature hardening embrittlement (LTHE)—including dose-temperature dependent yield stress, tensile elongations, necking ductility, test temperature effect on hardening, Charpy impact ductile-to-brittle transition temperature and fracture toughness, (b) intermediate temperature cavity swelling, (c) the effect of helium on LTHE and cavity swelling, (d) irradiation creep and (e) tritium management issues are reviewed. The potential causes of LTHE are discussed, which highlights the need for advanced characterisation techniques. The mechanical properties, including the tensile/Charpy impact of RAFM and ODS steels, are compared to show that the current generation of ODS steels also suffers from LTHE, and shows irradiation hardening up to high temperatures of ~400 °C–500 °C. To minimise this, future ODS steel development for FW/B-specific application should target materials with a lower Cr concentration (to minimise α'), and minimise other elements that could form embrittling phases under irradiation. RAFM steel-designing activities targeting improvements in creep and LTHE are reviewed. The need to better understand the synergistic effects of helium on the thermo-mechanical properties in the entire temperature range of FW/B is highlighted. Because fusion operating conditions will be complex, including stresses due to the magnetic field, primary loads like coolant pressure, secondary loads from thermal gradients, and due to spatial variation in damage levels and gas production rates, an experimentally validated multiscale modelling approach is suggested as a pathway to future reactor component designing such as for the fusion neutron science facility.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Hydroxyl radical mediated damage of proteins in low oxygen solution investigated using X-ray footprinting mass spectrometry

In the method of X-ray footprinting mass spectrometry (XFMS), proteins at micromolar concentration in solution are irradiated with a broadband X-ray source, and the resulting hydroxyl radical modifications are characterized using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to determine sites of solvent accessibility. These data are used to infer structural changes in proteins upon interaction with other proteins, folding, or ligand binding. XFMS is typically performed under aerobic conditions; dissolved molecular oxygen in solution is necessary in many, if not all, the hydroxyl radical modifications that are generally reported. In this study we investigated the result of X-ray induced modifications to three different proteins under aerobic versus low oxygen conditions, and correlated the extent of damage with dose calculations. We observed a concentration-dependent protecting effect at higher protein concentration for a given X-ray dose. For the typical doses used in XFMS experiments there was minimal X-ray induced aggregation and fragmentation, but for higher doses we observed formation of covalent higher molecular weight oligomers, as well as fragmentation, which was affected by the amount of dissolved oxygen in solution. The higher molecular weight products in the form of dimers, trimers, and tetramers were present in all sample preparations, and, upon X-ray irradiation, these oligomers became non-reducible as seen in SDS-PAGE. The results provide an important contribution to the large body of X-ray radiation damage literature in structural biology research, and will specifically help inform the future planning of XFMS, and well as X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Surface Wave Based Non-conductor-contact Reflectometry Method for Insulation and Jacket Damage Detection in Multi-Conductor Cables

This paper presents a non-conductor-contact surface wave reflectometry technique to locate insulation and jacket damage on multi-conductor cables at a distant location from the sensor. Simulation studies were conducted using Ansys high frequency structure simulator (HFSS). A GHz range surface wave launcher was employed such that maximum surface wave energies were confined in the insulation layer while minimizing attenuation. The wave launcher can potentially be mounted on the outer surface of live cables or cable conduits and requires no physical connection to the conductors. Multiple simulations involving a 4 GHz wave launcher and a three-conductor cable with an 8 mm outer diameter were carried out demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed method. Water leak and different types of insulation/jacket damage were simulated and detected.

reflectometry, multi-conductor cable, frequency do↗

Effect of Semiconducting Layer on Cable Insulation Damage Detection Using Surface Wave Reflectometry

This paper presents a study of the effect of the semiconducting layer present in medium and high voltage cables on surface wave propagation and its feasibility in detecting insulation damage on cables. Simulation studies were conducted using Ansys High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS). It was observed that attenuation increased with thicker semiconducting layer and higher conductivity of the layer. For instance, on a 24.4 mm diameter power cable, the electric field strength associated with a 1 GHz surface wave declines with distance and fades away after 30 m when a 2 mm thick semiconducting layer is present. More results as a function of semiconducting layer thickness, material conductivity and permittivity, distance of a damaged section, etc. will be presented.

reflectometry, unshielded power cable, semiconduct↗

Navy Enhanced Sierra Mechanics (NESM): Toolbox for predicting Navy shock and damage

Here, the US Navy is developing a new suite of computational mechanics tools (Navy Enhanced Sierra Mechanics) for the prediction of ship response, damage, and shock environments transmitted to vital systems during threat weapon encounters. NESM includes fully coupled Euler-Lagrange solvers tailored to ship shock/damage predictions. NESM is optimized to support high-performance computing architectures, providing the physics-based ship response/threat weapon damage predictions needed to support the design and assessment of highly survivable ships. NESM is being employed to support current Navy ship design and acquisition programs while being further developed for future Navy fleet needs.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

The development of a high sensitivity neutron displacement damage sensor

Here, the capability to characterize the neutron energy spectrum and fluence received by a test object is crucial to under-standing the damage effects observed in electronic components. For nuclear research reactors and high energy density physics fa-cilities this can pose exceptional challenges, especially with low level neutron fluences. An ASTM test method for characterizing neutron environments utilizes the 2N2222A transistor as a 1-MeV equivalent neutron fluence sensor and is applicable for environ-ments with 1 x 10 12 - 1 x 10 14 1-MeV(Si)-Eqv.-n/cm 2 . In this work we seek to extend the range of this test method to lower fluence environments utilizing the 2N1486 transistor. Here, the 2N1486 is shown to be an effective neutron displacement damage sensor as low as 1 x 10 10 1-MeV(Si)-Eqv.-n/cm 2 .

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Plasma damage mechanisms in low k organosilicate glass and their inhibition by Ar ion bombardment

In-situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ex-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photons with or without O{sub 2}, and O radicals point to distinct mechanisms of carbon abstraction in nanoporous organosilicate glass (OSG) films. VUV alone in the absence of O{sub 2} results in Si-CH{sub 3} bond scission and recombination preferentially at silicon monomethyl sites, obeying diffusion kinetics. In contrast, the presence of O{sub 2} interferes with recombination, resulting in diffusion-dominated carbon loss kinetics, enhanced Si oxidation, and greatly accelerating the rate of carbon loss in both the near surface and bulk regions of the OSG, at both monomethyl and dimethyl sites. Carbon abstraction due to exposure to (O({sup 3}P)) does not follow diffusion kinetics, and such interactions yield a SiO{sub 2}-like surface layer inhibiting further O diffusion. Results indicate that diffusion-dominated carbon abstraction kinetics previously observed for OSG exposure to O{sub 2} plasma damage is primarily attributable to the diffusion of O{sub 2} down OSG nanopores, reacting at photoactivated sites, rather than the diffusion of O radicals. OSG pretreatment by 900 eV Ar{sup +} bombardment effectively inhibits both VUV + O{sub 2} and O damage mechanisms by formation of ∼1 nm thick SiO{sub 2}-like surface region that inhibits both O and O{sub 2} diffusion.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

WE-FG-BRA-04: A Portable Confocal Microscope to Image Live Cell Damage Response Induced by Therapeutic Radiation

Purpose: To construct a custom and portable fluorescence confocal laser-scanning microscope (FCLSM) that can be placed in the path of therapeutic radiation beams to study real-time radiation-induced damage response in live cells. Methods: We designed and constructed a portable FCLSM with three laser diodes for excitation (405, 488, and 635 nm). An objective lens focuses the excitation light and collects fluorescence from the sample. A pair of galvanometer mirrors scans/collects the laser beam/fluorescence along the focal plane (x/y-directions). A stepper motor stage scans in the axial direction and positions the x/y of the image field. Barrier filters and dichroic mirrors are used to route the spectral emission bands to the appropriate photodetector. An avalanche photodiode collects near-infrared fluorescence; a photodiode collects back-reflected 635 nm light; and a photomultiplier tube collects green fluorescence in the range of eGFP/eYFP. A 200-µm diameter pinhole was used to implement the confocal geometry for near-infrared and red channels and a 150-µm diameter pinhole for the green channel. Data acquisition and system control were achieved using a high-throughput data acquisition card. In-house software developed in LabVIEW was used to control the hardware, collect data from the photodetectors and reconstruct the confocal images. Results: 6 frames/s can be acquired for a 25 µm{sup 2} (128×128 pixels) field of view, visualizing the entire volume of the cell nucleus (∼10 µm depth) in <10 s. To demonstrate the usefulness of our FCLSM, we imaged gold nanoshells in live cells, radiation-induced damage in fibrosarcoma cells expressing eGFP tagged to a DNA repair protein, and neurons expressing eGFP. The system can also image particle tracks in fluorescent nuclear track detectors. Conclusion: We developed a versatile and portable FCLSM that allows radiobiology studies in live cells exposed to therapeutic radiation. The FCLSM can be placed in any vertical beam line for top-to-bottom exposures. This research was supported by the Sister Institution Network Fund and the Center for Radiation Oncology Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Gabriel Sawakuchi has research support from Elekta Inc.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

An Introduction to Radiation Damage in Minerals and Ceramics [Slides]

Radiation effects in minerals and ceramics are quite distinct from effects observed in metals. This is largely due to interactions between radiation and the electronic structure of insulating materials that are unique compared to metallic conductors. Most notably, insulators exhibit property changes when energetic particles lose energy to electrons in the solid, whereas metals are unaffected by electronic energy losses. In addition, displacive radiation damage effects (atoms being knocked off their lattice sites by energetic particles) are much more complex in insulators, due to the complexities of their crystal structures (multiple cation and anion sublattices). In this presentation, we will focus on the atomistic mechanisms responsible for radiation damage in minerals and ceramics, when energetic particles lose energy while penetrating a solid. We will consider several examples, including (i) irradiation induced color center formation in gemstones; (ii) latent defects in alkali halides (relevance to thermoluminescent detectors); (iii) radioactive decay-induced amorphization of natural minerals; and (iv) extended defect formation and phase stability in complex oxides.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Neutron Damage Calculator [Poster]

The Nuclear Science Users Facilities (NSUF) currently has several experimental reactors participating in the program. These reactors allow users to complete material irradiation and studies of the effects of radiation on those materials. Completing the experiments is a long and costly process, beginning with applying for NSUF funding and support to placing materials in the reactor to post- irradiation examination . The goal of this project is to build a tool that NSUF users can use during the conceptual design phase of their experiment to select a reactor and reactor position which is the most fitting for their needed level of neutron damage. The tool has three main functions: 1) calculate displacements per atom (DPA) for multiple different materials, 2) calculate the time needed to reach the desired DPA, and 3) inform users what position in what reactor will give them the desired radiation damage the most effectively. This work is at the stage of finding displacement cross sections needed to calculate DPA. Future work will include finishing DPA calculations and modifying the current code to be used with other NSUF research reactors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A fast Monte Carlo cell-by-cell simulation for radiobiological effects in targeted radionuclide therapy using pre-calculated single-particle track standard DNA damage data

Introduction: We developed a new method that drastically speeds up radiobiological Monte Carlo radiation-track-structure (MC-RTS) calculations on a cell-by-cell basis. Methods: The technique is based on random sampling and superposition of single-particle track (SPT) standard DNA damage (SDD) files from a “pre-calculated” data library, constructed using the RTS code TOPAS-nBio, with “time stamps” manually added to incorporate dose-rate effects. This time-stamped SDD file can then be input into MEDRAS, a mechanistic kinetic model that calculates various radiation-induced biological endpoints, such as DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), misrepairs and chromosomal aberrations, and cell death. As a benchmark validation of the approach, we calculated the predicted energy-dependent DSB yield and the ratio of direct-to-total DNA damage, both of which agreed with published in vitro experimental data. We subsequently applied the method to perform a superfast cell-by-cell simulation of an experimental in vitro system consisting of neuroendocrine tumor cells uniformly incubated with 177 Lu. Results and discussion: The results for residual DSBs, both at 24 and 48 h post-irradiation, are in line with the published literature values. Our work serves as a proof-of-concept demonstration of the feasibility of a cost-effective “in silico clonogenic cell survival assay” for the computational design and development of radiopharmaceuticals and novel radiotherapy treatments more generally.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

A Review of Irradiation Damage and Effects in α-Uranium

Understanding irradiation damage and effects in α-uranium (α-U) is critical to modeling the behavior of U-based metallic fuels. The aim of this review is to address the renewed interest in U-based metallic fuels by examining the state-of-the-art knowledge associated with the effect of irradiation on the microstructure, dimensional changes, and properties of α-U. We critically review the research progress on irradiation-induced growth and swelling, the enhancement of plastic flow and superplasticity by irradiation, and the effect of irradiation on thermal and electrical properties of α-U. Finally, we outline the research directions that require advancements, specifically the need to carry out fundamental research on several of the less understood mechanisms of irradiation damage and effects in α-U.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Erosion, Corrosion and Foreign Object Damage Effects in Gas Turbines [Les consequences de l'endommagement des turbines I gaz par erosion, corrosion et objets étrangers]

The Conference Proceedings contains 31 papers presented at the Propulsion and Energetics Panel Symposium on Erosion, Corrosion and Foreign Object Damage Effects in Gas Turbines which was held from 25-28th April 1994, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The Technical Evaluation Report and the Keynote Address are included at the beginning and discussions follow most papers. The Symposium was arranged in the following Sessions: Operational Experience and Requirements (7); Deposition and Erosion (7); Foreign Object Damage (5); Coatings, Repairs and Materials Aspects - 1 (4); Coatings, Repairs and Materials Aspects - 2 (7); and Testing and Certification Procedures (1).

Deposition↗