• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.167-174
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• 2023

Background: A nondestructive test is commonly used to inspect the surface defects and internal structure of an object without any physical damage. X-rays generated from an electron accelerator or a tube are one of the methods used for nondestructive testing. The high penetration of X-rays through materials with low atomic numbers makes it difficult to discriminate between these materials using X-ray imaging. The interaction characteristics of neutrons with materials can supplement the limitations of X-ray imaging in material discrimination. Materials and Methods: The radiation image acquisition process for air-cargo security inspection equipment using X-rays and neutrons was simulated using a GEometry ANd Tracking (Geant4) simulation toolkit. Radiation images of phantoms composed of 13 materials were obtained, and the R-value, representing the attenuation ratio of neutrons and gamma rays in a material, was calculated from these images. Results and Discussion: The R-values were calculated from the simulated X-ray and neutron images for each phantom and compared with those obtained in the experiments. The R-values obtained from the experiments were higher than those obtained from the simulations. The difference can be due to the following two causes. The first reason is that there are various facilities or equipment in the experimental environment that scatter neutrons, unlike the simulation. The other is the difference in the neutron signal processing. In the simulation, the neutron signal is the sum of the number of neutrons entering the detector. However, in the experiment, the neutron signal was obtained by superimposing the intensities of the neutron signals. Neutron detectors also detect gamma rays, and the neutron signal cannot be clearly distinguished in the process of separating the two types of radiation. Despite these differences, the two results showed similar trends and the viability of using simulation-based radiation images, particularly in the field of security screening. With further research, the simulation-based radiation images can replace ones from experiments and be used in the related fields. Conclusion: The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has developed air-cargo security inspection equipment using neutrons and X-rays. Using this equipment, radiation images and R-values for various materials were obtained. The equipment was reconstructed, and the R-values were obtained for 13 materials using the Geant4 simulation toolkit. The R-values calculated by experiment and simulation show similar trends. Therefore, we confirmed the feasibility of using the simulation-based radiation image.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.153-159
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• 2023

The copper ion, Cu(II), binding sites for amyloid fragment Aβ1-16 (=Aβ16 ) were investigated to explain the biological activity difference in the Aβ16 aggregation process. The [M+Cu+(z-2)H]^z+ (z = 2, 3 and 4, M = Aβ16 monomer) and [D+Cu+(z-2)H]^z+ (z = 3 and 5, D = Aβ16 dimer) structures were investigated using electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Fragment ions of the [M+Cu+(z-2)H]^z+ and [D+Cu+(z-2)H]^z+ complexes were observed using collision-induced dissociation MS/MS. Three different fragmentation patterns (fragment "a", "b", and "y" ion series) were observed in the MS/MS spectrum of the (Aβ16 monomer or dimer-Cu) complex, with the "b" and "y" ion series regularly observed. The "a" ion series was not observed in the MS/MS spectrum of the [M+Cu+2H]⁴⁺ complex. In the non-covalent bond dissociation process, the [D+Cu+3H]⁵⁺ complex separated into three components ([M+Cu+H]³⁺, M³⁺, and M²⁺), and the [M+Cu]²⁺ subunit was not observed. The {M + fragment ion of [M+Cu+H]³⁺} fragmentation pattern was observed during the covalent bond dissociation of the [D+Cu +3H]⁵⁺ complex. The {M + [M+Cu+H]³⁺} complex geometry was assumed to be stable in the [D+Cu+3H]⁵⁺ complex. The {M + fragment ion of [M+Cu]²⁺} fragmentation pattern was also observed in the MS/MS spectrum of the [D+Cu+H]³⁺ complex. The {M + [y₉+Cu]¹⁺} fragment ion was the characteristic fragment ion. The [D+Cu+H]³⁺ and [D+Cu+3H]⁵⁺ complexes were likely to form a monomer-monomer-Cu (M-M-Cu) structure instead of a monomer-Cu-monomer (M-Cu-M) structure.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.120-129
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• 2023

Hanger cable tension is a major response that can determine the integrity and safety of suspension bridges. In general, the vibration method is used to estimate hanger cable tension on operational suspension bridges. It measures natural frequencies from hanger cables and indirectly estimates tension using the geometry conditions of the hanger cables. This study estimated the hanger cable tension of the Palyeong Bridge using a vision-based system. The vision-based system used digital camcorders and tripods considering the convenience and economic efficiency of measurement. Measuring the natural frequencies for high-order modes required for the vibration method is difficult because the hanger cable response measured using the vision-based system is displacement-based. Therefore, this study proposed a back analysis technique for estimating tension using the natural frequencies of low-order modes. Optimization for the back analysis technique was performed by defining the difference between the natural frequencies of hanger cables measured in the field and those calculated using finite element analysis as the objective function. The direct search method that does not require the partial derivatives of the objective function was applied as the optimization method. The reliability and accuracy of the back analysis technique were verified by comparing the tension calculated using the method with that estimated using the vibration method. Tension was accurately estimated using the natural frequencies of low-order modes by applying the back analysis technique.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.30-39
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• 2023

Large dams, which are critical infrastructures for disaster prevention, are exposed to various risks such as aging, floods, and earthquakes. Better dam safety inspection and diagnosis using digital transformation technologies are needed. Traditional visual inspection methods by human inspectors have several limitations, including many inaccessible areas, danger of working at heights, and know-how based subjective inspections. In this study, drone photogrammetry was performed on two large dams to evaluate the applicability of digital data-based dam safety inspection and propose a data management methodology for continuous use. High-quality 3D digital models with GSD (ground sampling distance) within 2.5 cm/pixel were generated by flat double grid missions and manual photography methods, despite reservoir water surface and electromagnetic interferences, and severe altitude differences ranging from 42 m to 99.9 m of dam heights. Geometry profiles of the as-built conditions were easily extracted from the generated 3D mesh models, orthomosaic images, and digital surface models. The effectiveness of monitoring dam deformation by photogrammetry was confirmed. Cracks and deterioration of dam concrete structures, such as spillways and intake towers, were detected and visualized efficiently using the digital 3D models. This can be used for safe inspection of inaccessible areas and avoiding risky tasks at heights. Furthermore, a methodology for mapping the inspection result onto the 3D digital model and structuring a relational database for managing deterioration information history was proposed. As a result of measuring the labor and time required for safety inspection at the SYG Dam spillway, the drone photogrammetry method was found to have a 48% productivity improvement effect compared to the conventional manpower visual inspection method. The drone photogrammetry-based dam safety inspection is considered very effective in improving work productivity and data reliability.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.51-70
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• 2023

This study employed driving simulation to examine how takeover request (TOR) information modalities (visual, auditory, and visual + auditory) in Level-3 automated vehicles, and road types (straight and curved) influence the driver's control takeover time (TOT) and mental workload, assessed through subjective workload and heart rate variations. The findings reveal several key points. First, visual TOR resulted in the quickest TOT, while auditory TOR led to the longest. Second, TOT was considerably slower on curved roads compared to straight roads, with the greatest difference observed under the auditory TOR condition. Third, the auditory TOR condition generally induced lower subjective workload and heart rate variability than the visual or visual + auditory conditions. Finally, significant heart rate changes were predominantly observed in curved road conditions. These outcomes indicate that TOT and mental workload levels in drivers are influenced by both the TOR modality and road geometry. Notably, a faster TOT is associated with increased mental workload.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.272-289
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• 2020

Current advances in CT techniques allow thorough evaluation of the beating heart. The strengths of cardiac CT relative to echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging are its high availability in most institutions, rapid production of high-quality images, and outstanding delineation of the anatomy. For many normal variants and pathologic conditions, such as thrombi, masses, and congenital abnormalities of the left atrium, CT findings are sufficient to make a presumptive diagnosis. Assessments of the left atrium and left atrial appendage are particularly important for the management of atrial fibrillation, as various catheter-based procedures are aimed at the mechanical and electrical isolation of these structures. CT offers information crucial to a successful catheter-based procedure or surgery. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the geometry (shape, size, and relative position), along with various CT imaging features of pathologic states, should be provided in radiology reports to be of clinical value.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.49-62
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• 2024

Reckless development of the underground by rapid urbanization causes inspection delay on replacement of existing structure and installation new facilities. However, frequent accidents occur due to deviation in construction design planned by inaccurate location information of underground structure. Meanwhile, the electrical resistivity survey, knowns as non-destructive method, is based on the difference in the electric potential of electrodes to measure the electrical resistance of ground. This method is significantly advanced with multi-electrode and deep learning for analyzing strata. However, there is no study to quantitatively assess change in electrical resistance according to geometric conditions of structures. This study evaluates changes in electrical resistance through geometric parameters of electrodes and structure. Firstly, electrical resistance numerical module is developed using generalized mesh occurring minimal errors between theoretical and numerical resistance values. Then, changes in resistances are quantitatively compared on geometric parameters including burial depth, diameter of structure, and distance electrode and structure under steady current condition. The results show that higher electrical resistance is measured for shallow depth, larger size, and proximity to the electrode. Additionally, electric potential and current density distributions are analyzed to discuss the measured electrical resistance around the terminal electrode and structure.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.4447-4464
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• 2023

This paper focuses on the development of a new computational model of the CNESTEN's TRIGA Mark II research reactor using the 3D continuous energy Monte-Carlo code TRIPOLI-4 (T4). This new model was developed to assess neutronic simulations and determine quantities of interest such as kinetic parameters of the reactor, control rods worth, power peaking factors and neutron flux distributions. This model is also a key tool used to accurately design new experiments in the TRIGA reactor, to analyze these experiments and to carry out sensitivity and uncertainty studies. The geometry and materials data, as part of the MCNP reference model, were used to build the T4 model. In this regard, the differences between the two models are mainly due to mathematical approaches of both codes. Indeed, the study presented in this article is divided into two parts: the first part deals with the development and the validation of the T4 model. The results obtained with the T4 model were compared to the existing MCNP reference model and to the experimental results from the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR). Different core configurations were investigated via simulations to test the computational model reliability in predicting the physical parameters of the reactor. As a fairly good agreement among the results was deduced, it seems reasonable to assume that the T4 model can accurately reproduce the MCNP calculated values. The second part of this study is devoted to the sensitivity and uncertainty (S/U) studies that were carried out to quantify the nuclear data uncertainty in the multiplication factor k_eff. For that purpose, the T4 model was used to calculate the sensitivity profiles of the k_eff to the nuclear data. The integrated-sensitivities were compared to the results obtained from the previous works that were carried out with MCNP and SCALE-6.2 simulation tools and differences of less than 5% were obtained for most of these quantities except for the C-graphite sensitivities. Moreover, the nuclear data uncertainties in the k_eff were derived using the COMAC-V2.1 covariance matrices library and the calculated sensitivities. The results have shown that the total nuclear data uncertainty in the k_eff is around 585 pcm using the COMAC-V2.1. This study also demonstrates that the contribution of zirconium isotopes to the nuclear data uncertainty in the k_eff is not negligible and should be taken into account when performing S/U analysis.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.2211-2221
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• 2013

During the four river restoration project, several weirs were constructed in the four rivers to prevent drought and flood, to improve water quality, and to manage water resources. However, due to the weir construction, bed changes are produced in the upstream channel of installed weirs because the incoming flow velocity is reduced and sediment transport capacity is also lowered. Especially, since the Haman Weir is located in the lowest downstream section among newly installed weirs in Nakdong River, bed change and sedimentation problems are expected due to the mild slope and reduced velocity. Therefore, numerical simulation was performed to analyze flow and bed changes in the upstream channel of Haman Weir and to evaluate quantitatively sediment control methods for bed stabilization using CCHE2D model. As a result of flow and bed change simulation after installation of Haman Weir, the flow velocity at the initial condition was faster than the final bed condition with the specific simulation time and it was represented that the locations where bed changes were great were identical for all modeling conditions of flow discharge. In case of 4.5 m of water level lowered from 5.0 m of the management water level at Haman Weir for bed stabilization, the flow velocity was generally faster than the case of the management water level and the continuous erosion was developed at the most narrow channel section as the applied discharge and simulation period were increased. The channel width extension at the most narrow channel section was proposed in this study to prevent and stabilize continuos bed erosion. As a result of numerical analysis, there was no bed erosion after channel width extension and it was presented that the channel geometry extension was effective for bed stabilization at Haman Weir.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.111-124
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• 2010

To monitor the environment of land surface change is considered as an important research field since those parameters are related with land use, climate change, meteorological study, agriculture modulation, surface energy balance, and surface environment system. For the change detection, many different methods have been presented for distributing more detailed information with various tools from ground based measurement to satellite multi-spectral sensor. Recently, using high resolution satellite data is considered the most efficient way to monitor extensive land environmental system especially for higher spatial and temporal resolution. In this study, we use two different spatial resolution satellites; the one is SPOT/VEGETATION with 1 km spatial resolution to detect coarse resolution of the area change and determine objective threshold. The other is Landsat satellite having high resolution to figure out detailed land environmental change. According to their spatial resolution, they show different observation characteristics such as repeat cycle, and the global coverage. By correlating two kinds of satellites, we can detect land surface change from mid resolution to high resolution. The K-mean clustering algorithm is applied to detect changed area with two different temporal images. When using solar spectral band, there are complicate surface reflectance scattering characteristics which make surface change detection difficult. That effect would be leading serious problems when interpreting surface characteristics. For example, in spite of constant their own surface reflectance value, it could be changed according to solar, and sensor relative observation location. To reduce those affects, in this study, long-term Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) with solar spectral channels performed for atmospheric and bi-directional correction from SPOT/VEGETATION data are utilized to offer objective threshold value for detecting land surface change, since that NDVI has less sensitivity for solar geometry than solar channel. The surface change detection based on long-term NDVI shows improved results than when only using Landsat.