• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.513-537
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• 2017

In this study, the fracture toughness $K_{IC}$ of high performance concrete (HPC) was investigated by conducting three-point bending tests on a total of 240 notched beams of $500mm{\times}100mm{\times}100mm$ subjected to heating temperatures up to $450^{\circ}C$ with exposure times up to 16 hours and various heating and cooling rates. For a heating rate of $3^{\circ}C/min$, $K_{IC}$ for the hot concrete sustained a monotonic decrease trend with the increasing heating temperature and exposure time, from $1.389MN/m^{1.5}$ at room temperature to $0.942MN/m^{1.5}$ at $450^{\circ}C$ for 4-hour exposure time, $0.906MN/m^{1.5}$ for 8-hour exposure time and $0.866MN/m^{1.5}$ for 16-hour exposure time. For the cold concrete, $K_{IC}$ sustained a two-stage decrease trend, dropping slowly with the heating temperature up to $150^{\circ}C$ and then rapidly down to $0.869MN/m^{1.5}$ at $450^{\circ}C$ for 4-hour exposure time, $0.812MN/m^{1.5}$ for 8-hour exposure time and $0.771MN/m^{1.5}$ for 16-hour exposure time. In general, the $K_{IC}$ values for the hot concrete up to $200^{\circ}C$ were larger than those for the cold concrete, and an inverse trend was observed thereafter. The increase in heating rate slightly decreased $K_{IC}$, and at $450^{\circ}C$ $K_{IC}$ decreased from $0.893MN/m^{1.5}$ for $1^{\circ}C/min$ to $0.839MN/m^{1.5}$ for $10^{\circ}C/min$ for the hot concrete and from $0.792MN/m^{1.5}$ for $1^{\circ}C/min$ to $0.743MN/m^{1.5}$ for $10^{\circ}C/min$ for the cold concrete after an exposure time of 16 hours. The increase in cooling rate also slightly decreased $K_{IC}$, and at $450^{\circ}C$ $K_{IC}$ decreased from $0.771MN/m^{1.5}$ for slow cooling to $0.739MN/m^{1.5}$ for fast cooling after an exposure time of 16 hours. The fracture energy-based fracture toughness $K_{IC}$' was also assessed, and similar decrease trends with the heating temperature and exposure time existed for both hot and cold concretes. The relationships of two fracture toughness parameters with the weight loss and the modulus of rapture were also evaluated.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1068-1078
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• 2004

In this paper we investigated the characteristics of surface degradation in silicone rubber due to corona exposure and recovery mechanism. It was shown that surface free energy was 22.42 mJ/$m^2$ on initial sample but surface free energy was approximately increased to 71.14 mJ/$m^2$ after 45 minutes. However, surface free energy on silicone rubber after corona discharge treatment was completely recovered within a short time due to diffusion of low molecular weight(LMW) silicone fluid. It was shown that corona discharge insured the increase of diffusible LMW chains, which could lead to recover the surface hydrophobicity. 200～370 g/mol distribution of LMW silicone fluid which was extracted by solvent-extraction with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was contributed to recovery. The surface degradation characteristics on silicone rubbers and the recovery mechanism based on our results were discussed.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.123-130
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• 2017

Concerns about high radiation exposure to the hands of radiation workers who may contact with radioactive contamination on surfaces in a nuclear power plant (NPP) had been raised, and the Korean regulatory body required the extremity dose estimation during contact tasks with radioactive materials. Korean NPPs conducted field tests to identify the incident radiation to the hands of radiation workers who may contact with radioactive contamination during maintenance periods. The results showed that the radiation fields for contact tasks are dominated by high energy photons. It was also found that the radiation doses to the hands of radiation workers in Korean NPPs were much less than the annual dose limits for extremities. This approach can be applicable to measure and estimate the extremity dose to the hands of medical workers who handle the radioactive materials in a hospital.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.86-91
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• 2019

Generally, atmospheric corrosion is the electrochemical degradation of metal that can be caused by various corrosion factors of atmospheric components and weather, as well as air pollutants. Specifically, moisture and particles of sea salt and sulfur dioxide are major factors in atmospheric corrosion. Using galvanized steel is one of the most efficient ways to protect iron from corrosion by zinc plating on the surface of the iron. Galvanized steel is widely used in automobiles, building structures, roofing, and other industrial structures due to their high corrosion resistance relative to iron. The atmospheric corrosion of galvanized steel shows complex corrosion behavior, depending on the plating, coating thickness, atmospheric environment, and air pollutants. In addition, corrosion products are produced in different types of environments. The lifespans of galvanized steels may vary depending on the use environment. Therefore, this study investigated the corrosion behavior of galvannealed steel under atmospheric corrosion in two locations in Korea, and the lifespan prediction of galvannealed steel in rural and coastal environments was conducted by means of the potentiostatic dissolution test and the chemical cyclic corrosion test.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.1835-1841
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• 2019

The mass attenuation coefficient ${\mu}_m$ for eight rock samples having different chemical composition was simulated using the MCNP 5 code in energy range($0.002MeV{\leq}E{\leq}10MeV$). Moreover, the ${\mu}_m$ for the studied rock samples was computed theoretically using XCOM database. The comparison between simulated and computed data for all selected rock samples showed a good agreement with differences varied between 0.01 and 8%. The highest ${\mu}_m$ was found for basalt rocks M2 and M1 and the lowest one is reported for limestone rocks Dike. The simulated values of the ${\mu}_m$ then were used to calculate other important shielding parameters such as the mean free path, effective electron density and effective atomic number. The exposure buildup factor EBF was also computed for the selected rocks with the contribution of G-P fitting parameters and the highest EBF attended by the basalt sample Sill and varied between 1.022 and 744 in the energy range between ($0.015MeV{\leq}E{\leq}15MeV$) but the lowest EBF achieved by basalt sample M2 and varied between 1.017 and 491 in the same energy range.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2022

The effect of electron beam (EB) irradiation on superconducting properties and microstructures of MgB₂ bulk superconductors were investigated. At E-beam doses of 1×10¹⁶ e/cm² and 1×10¹⁷ e/cm², the effect of irradiation on a superconducting transition temperature (T_c) of MgB₂ was weak. As a dose increases to 5×10¹⁷ e/cm², T_c decreases by 0.5 K. The critical current density (J_c) measured at 4.2 K and 20 K, and 0 T - 5 T increases slightly as exposure time increases. X-ray diffraction for the irradiation surface of MgB₂ shows that the diffraction intensity of (hkl) peaks decreases proportionally as the exposure time increases. This indicates that the crystallinity of MgB₂ was degraded by irradiation. TEM investigation for the irradiated sample showed distorted lattice structure, which is consistent with the XRD results. The J_c increase and T_c reduction of MgB₂ by irradiation are believed to be caused by the lattice distortion.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.258-272
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• 2022

Steel structures exposed to the outdoors experienced several types of corrosion, which may reduce their thickness. Since atmospheric corrosion can induce economic losses, it is important to consider the atmospheric corrosion behavior of a variety of metals and alloys. This work performed outdoor exposure tests for 10 years at 14 areas in Korea and calculated the atmospheric corrosion rate of weathering steel. This paper discussed the atmospheric corrosion behavior of weathering steel based on various corrosion factors. The average corrosion rates in coastal, industrial, urban, and rural areas were found to range from (2.83 to 4.23) ㎛/y, (2.99 to 4.23) ㎛/y, (1.72 to 3.14) ㎛/y, and (1.57 to 2.85) ㎛/y respectively. It should be noted that the maximum corrosion rate was about 6.0 times greater than the average corrosion rate. Regardless of the exposure sites, the color differences were increased, but the glossiness was reduced and there was no relationship between the corrosion rate and environmental factors and the glossiness.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.402-409
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• 2024

High energy neutron irradiations impact on structural and electrical properties of alumina are studied with particular emphasis on real time in-situ radiation induced conductivity measurement in low flux region. Polycrystalline Al₂O₃ samples are subjected to high energy neutrons produced from D-T neutron generator and Am-Be neutron source. 14 MeV neutrons from D-T generator are chosen to study the role of fast neutron irradiation in the structural modification of samples. Real time in-situ electrical measurement is performed to investigate the change in insulation resistance of Al₂O₃ due to radiation induced conductivity at low flux regime. During neutron irradiation, a significant transient decrease in insulation resistance is observed which recovers relative higher value just after neutron exposure is switched off. XRD results of 14 MeV neutron irradiated samples suggest annealing effect. Impact of relatively low energy neutrons on the structural properties is also studied using Am-Be neutrons. In this case, clustering is observed on the sample surface after prolonged neutron exposure. The structural characterizations of pristine and irradiated Al₂O₃ samples are performed using XRD, SEM, and EDX. The results from these characterizations are analysed and interpreted in the manuscript.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.241-250
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• 2011

The safety of human exposure to an ever-increasing number and diversity of electromagnetic field (EMF) sources both at work and at home has clearly become a public health issue. To date many $in$ $vivo$ and $in$ $vitro$ studies revealed that EMF exposure can alter cellular metabolism, endocrine function, immune activity, reproductive function, and fetal development in animal system. The major parameters found to be altered in cells or individuals following EMF exposure include an increase of free radicals, DNA damage, cancer risk, developmental defect, and reproductive dysfunctions. Epidemiological studies reported EMF can increase life-threatening illnesses such as leukemia, brain cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, clinical depression, suicide, and Alzheimer's disease has been identified. These effects of EMF exposure differ according to duration of exposure, frequency of waves, and strength (energy) of EMF. In the present review, we briefly introduced the physical properties of EMF and summarized the effect of EMF on human and wildlife animals according to types of EMF, duration of exposure at cellular and organism levels.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.55-64
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• 2009

In a pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR), radiation workers who have access to radiation controlled areas submit their urine samples to health physicists periodically; internal radiation exposure is evaluated by the monitoring of these urine samples. Internal radiation exposure at PHWRs accounts for approximately 20 $\sim$ 40% of total radiation exposure; most internal radiation exposure is attributed to tritium. Carbon-14 is not a dominant nuclide in the radiation exposure of workers, but it is one potential nuclide to be necessarily monitored. Carbon-14 is a low energy beta emitter and passes relatively easily into the body of workers by inhalation because its dominant chemical form is radioactive carbon dioxide ($^{14}CO_2$). Most inhaled carbon-14 is rapidly exhaled from the worker's body, but a small amount of carbon-14 remains inside the body and is excreted by urine. In this study, a method for dual analysis of tritium and carbon-14 in urine samples of workers at nuclear power plants is developed and a method for internal dose assessment using its excretion rate result is established. As a result of the developed dual analysis of tritium and carbon-14 in urine samples of radiation workers who entered the high radiation field area at a PHWR, it was found that internal exposure to carbon-14 is unlikely to occur. In addition, through the urine counting results of radiation workers who participated in the open process of steam generators, it was found that the likelihood of internal exposure to either tritium or carbon-14 is extremely low at pressurized water reactors (PWRs).