• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.555-565
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• 2023

Despite many advantages as structural materials, austenitic stainless steels (SSs) have been avoided in many next generation nuclear systems due to poor void swelling resistance. In this paper, we report the results of heavy ion irradiation to the recently developed advanced radiation resistant austenitic SS (ARES-6P) with nanosized NbC precipitates. Heavy ion irradiation was performed at high temperatures (500 ℃ and 575 ℃) to the damage level of ~200 displacement per atom (dpa). The measured void swelling of ARES-6P was 2-3%, which was considerably less compared to commercial 316 SS and comparable to ferritic martensitic steels. In addition, increment of hardness measured by nano-indentation was much smaller for ARES-6P compared to 316 SS. Though some nanosized NbC precipitates were dissociated under relatively high dose rate (~5.0 × 10^-4 dpa/s), sufficient number of NbC precipitates remained to act as sink sites for the point defects, resulting in such superior radiation resistance.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.80-99
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• 2023

This paper presents the results of investigating the change in welding residual stresses of the core shroud, which is one of subcomponents in reactor vessel internals, performing finite element analysis. First, the welding residual stresses of the core shroud were calculated by applying the heat conduction based lumped pass technique and finite element elastic-plastic stress analysis. Second, the temperature distribution of the core shroud during the normal operation was calculated by performing finite element temperature analysis considering gamma heating. Third, through the finite element viscoelastic-plastic stress analysis using the calculated temperature distribution and setting the calculated residual stresses as the initial stress state, the variation of the welding residual stresses was derived according to repeating the normal operation. In the viscoelastic-plastic stress analysis, the effects of neutron irradiation on mechanical properties during the cyclic normal operations were considered by using the previously developed user subroutines for the irradiation agings such as irradiation hardening/embrittlement, irradiation-induced creep, and void swelling. Finally, the effect of neutron irradiation on the welding residual stresses was analysed for each irradiation aging. As a result, it is found that as the normal operation is repeated, the welding residual stresses decrease and show insignificant magnitudes after the 10^th refueling cycle. In addition, the irradiation-induced creep/void swelling has significant mitigation effect on the residual stresses whereas the irradiation hardening/embrittlement has no effect on those.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.71-83
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• 2018

Compacted bentonites were chosen as the backfill material and buffer in high level nuclear waste disposal due to its high swelling pressure, high ion adsorption capacity and low permeability. It is essential to estimate the swelling pressure in design and considering the safety of the nuclear repositories. The swelling pressure model of expansive clay colloids was developed based on Gouy-Chapman diffuse double layer theory. However, the diffuse double layer model is effective in predicting low compaction dry density (low swelling pressure) for certain bentonites, and invalidation in simulating high compaction dry density (high swelling pressure). In this paper, the new relationship between nondimensional midplane potential function, u, and nondimensional distance function, Kd, were established based on the Gouy-Chapman theory by considering the variation of void ratio. The new developed model was constructed based on the published literature data of compacted Na-bentonite (MX80) and Ca-bentonite (FoCa) for sodium and calcium bentonite respectively. The proposed models were applied to re-compute swelling pressure of other compacted Na-bentonites (Kunigel-V1, Voclay, Neokunibond and GMZ) and Ca-bentonites (FEBEX, Bavaria bentonite, Bentonite S-2, Montigel bentonite) based on the reported experimental data. Results show that the predicted swelling pressure has a good agreement with the experimental swelling pressure in all cases.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2019

Tabriz is a large Iranian city and the capital of the East Azerbaijan province. The bed rock of this city is mainly consisted of marl layers. Marl layers have some outcrops in the northern and eastern parts of city that mainly belong to the Baghmisheh formation. Based on their colors, these marls are classified into three types: yellow, green, and gray marls. The city is developing toward its eastern side wherein various civil projects are under construction including tunnels, underground excavation, and high-rise building. In this regard, the swelling behavior assessment of these marls is of critical importance. Also, in lightweight structures with foundation pressure less than swelling pressure, several problems such as walls cracking and jamming of door and windows may occur. In the present study, physical properties and swelling behavior of Baghmisheh marls are investigated. According to the X-ray diffractometer (XRD) results, the marls are mainly composed of Illite, Kaolinite, Montmorillonite, and Chloride minerals. Type and content of clay minerals and initial void ratio have a decisive role in swelling behavior of these marls. The swelling potential of these marls was investigated using one-dimensional odometer apparatus under stress level up to 10 kPa. The results showed that yellow marls have high swelling potential and expansibility compared to the other marls. In addition, green and gray marls showed intermediate and low swelling potential and swelling pressure, respectively.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.269-278
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• 2022

The buffer is a critical barrier component in an engineered barrier system, and its purpose is to prevent potential radionuclides from leaking out from a damaged canister by filling the void in the repository. No experimental parameters exist that can describe the buffer expansion phenomenon when Kyeongju bentonite, which is a buffer candidate material available in Korea, is exposed to groundwater. As conventional experiments to determine these parameters are time consuming and complicated, simple swelling pressure tests, numerical modeling, and machine learning are used in this study to obtain the parameters required to establish a numerical model that can simulate swelling. Swelling tests conducted using Kyeongju bentonite are emulated using the COMSOL Multiphysics numerical analysis tool. Relationships between the swelling phenomenon and mechanical parameters are determined via an artificial neural network. Subsequently, by inputting the swelling tests results into the network, the values for the mechanical parameters of Kyeongju bentonite are obtained. Sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the influential parameters. Results of the numerical analysis based on the identified mechanical parameters are consistent with the experimental values.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.282-289
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• 2001

This study analyzed the relationship between the physical properties of soil and the compression index of the soft clay in Gyungnam coastal region. Tests of physical and mechanical properties of soil have been carried out under the undisturbed condition at 82 Gimhae, 18 Jinhae and 27 Geojespecimens. The result showed that Terzaghi & Peck's empirical equation of the compression index were not applicable. The compression index of soft clay in Gyungnam coastal region was correlated with the water contents, the liquid limit and the initial void ratio. Among these, the initial void ratio showed the highest correlation with the compression index of soft clay in Gyungnam coastal region and the relationship is shown in the following. (1) The compression index of soft clay in Gyungnam coastal region is represented as follows: $C_c=0.74(e_o-0.7$ (2) The relationship between compression index and the swelling index in Gyungnam coastal region is represented as follows: $C_s=(1/8-1/15)C_c$.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2006

Transparent materials are well known but preparation of transparent poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate {poly (HEMA)} material by varying solvent is a new one and economically reliable. This material is prepared from hydroxyl based monomer HEMA by radical polymerization using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator and isobutanol, 2-butanol, 1-butanol, hexane and toluene as a solvent. The reaction temperature, time and stirring speed were set at $70^{\circ}C$, 4 hrs and 150 rpm, respectively. The polymer was characterized for functional group by IR spectroscopy. It was observed that the intensity of band at $1637 cm^{-1}$ a characteristic band of C=C stretching disappeared indicating that it was completely consumed after polymerization. It was observed that swelling percentage increases with increase as time passes but after a certain time a constant swelling percentage is achieved. SEM pictures reveals that poly (HEMA) prepared by different solvent shows pore with a distinguishable void up to several micrometers. The BET surface area, cumulative pore volume and average pore diameter is greater in poly (HEMA) prepared by hexane as a solvent compared to other solvents. Poly (HEMA) prepared by 1-butanol as a solvent shows higher glass transition temperature compared to other solvents. Poly (HEMA) prepared by different solvents shows $90{\sim}94%$ light transmission property from light transmission measurement and looks transparent.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.99-110
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• 1997

The study was conducted in order to investigate the basic geotechnical properties of sand-bentonite mixtures with the various bentonite contents. The results obtained are as follows : 1. Optimum moisture content of sand-bentonite mixtures was approximately 17.10~18.52% corresponding to the maximum dry density of 1.58~1 .64gf/$cm^3$. As the bentonite contents and curing peroid increased, both the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of sand-bentonite mixtures increased. 2. The unconfined compressive strength of sand-bentonite mixtures increased as the increase of bentonite content, but it did not change along the curing period. 3. The sand-bentonite mixtures ruptured at 8~15% of the axial strain and the maxi-mum shearing stress was about O.7Okgf/$cm^2$. 4. According to the increase of bentonite content, the cohesion intercept and internal friction of the sand-bentonite mixtures increased slightly in the shear test, while the cohesion intercept increased largely, and the internal friction angle decreased largely in the triaxial test. 5. Both the initial void ratio and swelling of the sand-bentonite mixtures were very low with respect to the consolidation pressure increase. 6. The swelling and shrinkage of sand-bentonite mixtures increased slightly according to the increment of bentonite content.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.463-468
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• 2009

Syntheses of monodisperse and micron-sized hollow plastic pigment (HPP) were carried out through the core-shell reaction. The effects of the reaction parameters, such as the particle size, molecular weight, the swelling time, agitation rate, and the solid contect were investigated. This micron-sized HPP could be made by using the alkali soluble core with at least bigger than 200 nm size. To obtain a higher opacity ratio, the swelling time and molecular weight of the core should be controlled. The agitation rate affected the particle's morphology. To prevent the shell destruction, the agitation rate must be sufficiently low in case of the syntheses of micron-sized HPP. In this study, micron-sized HPP exhibiting the high hiding power and narrow particle distribution could be obtained.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.70-80
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• 1989

In this research program special triaxial compression tests and dehydration-swelling tests under the condition of freeze-thaw process were conducted to show the effects of freezethaw process on the physical properties of weathered granite soil, and their results as follows; 1.Consolidation settlement of weathered granite soil mass was increased due to freeze-thaw process, and the initial tangent coefficient of dense state was higher than that of loose state. 2.Compression behaviour of soil was increased according to the decrease of freezing temperature, and when the freezing temperature was reached under - 10$^{\circ}$C, the compression rate was not influenced by change of freezing temperature. 3.The experiments showed that the void ratio and permeability of soil were converged into their values of shrinkage limit, and the permeability was higher due to the freeze-thaw process and as the lower the freezing temperature. 4.The decrease of liquid limit was indicated as the lower the freezing temperature, and as more the freeze4haw cycles, the moisture content was shown the lower side. 5.It was shown that the shrinkage was decreased by freeze-thaw process and not influenced by way of freezing temperature, but dehydration rate was higher.