• Journal of The Korean Society For Urban Railway
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.393-399
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• 2018

It is well recognized that residual stresses of the rails, generated from the manufacturing process including roller straightening and heat treatment, play an important role in determining fatigue and fracture properties of the rails. Thus, it has been a challenge to measure the residual stresses accurately. In this work, contour method was employed to evaluate the residual stresses existing in interior of the rails. The cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail was cut at a very slow rate using electric discharge machining (EDM), after which a laser-based flexural measuring instrument enabled us to precisely measure the flection of the cross section. The measured data were converted into the residual stresses using the commercial finite element package, ABAQUS, through a user-defined element (UEL) subroutine, and the residual stresses of the new rails (50N, KR60, UIC60) with three different specifications were compared.

• Geosystem Engineering
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.243-250
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• 2018

This study investigated nitrite ($NO_2{^-}$) accumulation due to FA (Free Ammonia: $NH_3$) inhibition in an anaerobic-aerobic-anoxic (AOA) process reactor to mainly treat wastewater containing 302-610 mg/L of $NH_3/NH_4{^+}-N$. Based on an experimental operation focusing on the nitrification, it was observed that $NO_2{^-}$ was accumulated in the aerobic nitrification zone as pH increased, due to inhibition of $NO_2{^-}$ conversion to $NO_3{^-}$ by FA. This result implied FA inhibition to NOB ($NO_2{^-}$-Oxidizing Bacteria) for converting $NO_2{^-}$ to $NO_3{^-}$. The objective of this study is to develop a feasible monitoring procedure for early detection of the FA inhibition toward $NO_2{^-}$ accumulation and poor nitrification. Thus, in order to rapidly assess FA concentrations, an $NH_3$ probe was utilized to measure $NH_3$ concentrations together with applying a simple model prediction using the measured $NH_4{^+}$ concentrations, the Henry's law constant of $NH_3$ and measured pH. The predictive model $NH_3$ levels were verified by a good correlation (89%) with the corresponding measured data, but the model prediction underestimated FA concentrations at less than 7.4 and a little overestimated at pH above 7.5. Interestingly, accumulated $NO_2{^-}$ levels were roughly correlated with FA levels that were observed at delayed time points. This reflects the detected FA levels can be good indicators of $NO_2{^-}$ levels with some delayed time. $NO_2{^-}$ accumulation started at measured FA concentrations of higher than approximately 3 mg/L and ceased below that FA level.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.154-162
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• 2020

Background: Several studies have reported that wild mushrooms contain high amounts of radioactive cesium (137Cs). After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident, a significantly high concentration of 137Cs has been detected in wild mushrooms, and their consumption may be the cause of the chronic internal exposure of local consumers to radioactivity. Therefore, an accurate evaluation of the internal radioactivity resulting from mushroom ingestion is needed. Materials and Methods: The 137Cs elution rate through the cooking and digestion stages was evaluated using in vitro experiments. The edible mushroom Pleurotus djamor was taken as a sample for the experiments. The mushrooms were cultivated onto solid media containing 137Cs. We evaluated the internal dose based on the actual conditions using the elution rate data. For various cooking methods, the results were compared with those of other wild edible mushrooms. Results and Discussion: From the elution experiment through cooking, we proved that 25%-55% of the 137Cs in the mushrooms was released during soaking, boiling, or frying. The results of a simulated digestion experiment after cooking revealed that almost all the 137Cs in the ingested mushrooms eluted in the digestive juice, regardless of the cooking method. The committed effective dose was reduced by 20%-75% when considering the dissolution through the cooking process. Conclusion: We found that cooking lowers 137Cs concentration in mushrooms, therefore reducing the amount of radioactivity intake. Besides, since there were differences between mushroom types, we demonstrated that the internal exposure dose should be evaluated in detail considering the release of 137Cs during the cooking stages.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.145-152
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• 2020

Purpose: In ionization-chamber dosimetry for high-dose-rate electron beams-above 20 mGy/pulse-the ion-recombination correction methods recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) are not appropriate, because they overestimate the correction factor. In this study, we suggest a practical ion-recombination correction method, based on Boag's improved model, and apply it to reference dosimetry for electron beams of about 100 mGy/pulse generated from an electron linear accelerator (LINAC). Methods: This study employed a theoretical model of the ion-collection efficiency developed by Boag and physical parameters used by Laitano et al. We recalculated the ion-recombination correction factors using two-voltage analysis and obtained an empirical fitting formula to represent the results. Next, we compared the calculated correction factors with published results for the same calculation conditions. Additionally, we performed dosimetry for electron beams from a 6 MeV electron LINAC using an Advanced Markus^® ionization chamber to determine the reference dose in water at the source-to-surface distance (SSD)=100 cm, using the correction factors obtained in this study. Results: The values of the correction factors obtained in this work are in good agreement with the published data. The measured dose-per-pulse for electron beams at the depth of maximum dose for SSD=100 cm was 115 mGy/pulse, with a standard uncertainty of 2.4%. In contrast, the k_s values determined using the IAEA and AAPM methods are, respectively, 8.9% and 8.2% higher than our results. Conclusions: The new method based on Boag's improved model provides a practical method of determining the ion-recombination correction factors for high dose-per-pulse radiation beams up to about 120 mGy/pulse. This method can be applied to electron beams with even higher dose-per-pulse, subject to independent verification.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.74-80
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• 2021

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has been operating an integral effects test facility, the Advanced Thermal-Hydraulic Test Loop for Accident Simulation (ATLAS), according to APR1400 for transient experimental and design basis accident simulation. Moreover, based on the experimental data, the domestic standard problem (DSP) program has been conducted in Korea to validate system codes. Recently, through DSP-05, the performance of the passive auxiliary feedwater system (PAFS) in the event of multiple steam generator tube rupture (MSGTR) has been analyzed. However, some errors exist in the reference input model distributed for DSP-05. Furthermore, the calculation results of the heat loss correlation for the secondary system presented in the technical report of the reference indicate that a large difference is present in heat loss from the target value. Thus, in this study, the reference model is corrected using the geometric information from the design report and drawings of ATLAS. Additionally, a new heat loss correlation is suggested by fitting the results of the heat loss tests. Herein, MSGTR-PAFS accident analysis is performed using MARS-KS 1.5 with the improved model. The steady-state calculation results do not significantly differ from the experimental values, and the overall physical behavior of the transient state is properly predicted. Particularly, the predicted operating time of PAFS is similar to the experimental results obtained by the modified model. Furthermore, the operating time of PAFS varies according to the heat loss of the secondary system, and the sensitivity analysis results for the heat loss of the secondary system are presented.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.253-261
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• 2021

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is one of the most widely adopted silicon-based organic polymeric elastomers. Elastomeric nanostructures are normally required to accomplish an explicit mechanical role and correspondingly their mechanical properties are crucial to affect device and material performance. Despite its wide application, the mechanical properties of PDMS are yet fully understood. In particular, the time dependent mechanical response of PDMS has not been fully elucidated. Here, utilizing state-of-the-art PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (PFQNM) together with Force Volume (FV) and Fast Force Volume (FFV), the elastic moduli of PDMS samples were assessed in a time-dependent fashion. Specifically, the acquisition frequency was discretely changed four orders of magnitude from 0.1 Hz up to 2 kHz. Careful calibrations were done. Force data were fitted with a linearized DMT contact mechanics model considering surface adhesion force. Increased Young's modulus was discovered with increasing acquisition frequency. It was measured 878 ± 274 kPa at 0.1 Hz and increased to 4586 ± 758 kPa at 2 kHz. The robust local probing of mechanical measurement as well as unprecedented high-resolution topography imaging open new avenues for quantitative nanomechanical mapping of soft polymers, and can be extended to soft biological systems.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2022

Background: A comprehensive, traceable, and easy-to-understand radiation risk indicator is desired for radiological protection. The early-onset hypothesis could be used for this purpose. Materials and Methods: An indicator for early death (IED) was developed and calculated using the epidemiological dataset from the 14^th Report of the Life Span Study (LSS) of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. By clarifying the calculation process, IED for all-cause mortality was estimated. In addition, the characteristics of IED for solid cancer mortality and cardiovascular mortality as well as those of men and women, and their dependence on age at exposure were investigated for detailed analysis. Results and Discussion: The IED for all-cause mortality was estimated to be approximately 4 years for an acute radiation exposure of 1 Gy regardless of the fitting dose range. The cumulative death rate for all solid cancers also indicated the early-death tendency (approximately 7-10 years at 1 Gy). Although, there is a slight difference in the characteristics of the risk obtained from the LSS study and this study, it is considered that the IED in a unit of years can also be used to show the overall picture of risk due to radiation exposure. Conclusion: We developed and calculated the indicator for early death, IED, for the cumulative mortality rate of all causes of death, all solid cancers, and circulatory diseases. The quantitative values of IED were estimated to be 4 years for all causes of death, 7-10 years for all solid cancers. IED has an advantage for intuitively understanding the meaning of radiation risk since it can be obtained by a simple and traceable method.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.2387-2395
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• 2021

Seismic qualifications of electrical equipment, such as cabinet systems, have been emerging as the key area of nuclear power plants in Korea since the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake, including the high-frequency domain. In addition, electrical equipment was sensitive to the high-frequency ground motions during the past earthquake. Therefore, this paper presents the rocking behavior of the electrical cabinet system subjected to Reg. 1.60 and UHS. The high fidelity finite element (FE) model of the cabinet related to the shaking table test data was developed. In particular, the first two global modes of the cabinet from the experimental test were 16 Hz and 24 Hz, respectively. In addition, 30.05 Hz and 37.5 Hz were determined to be the first two local modes in the cabinet. The high fidelity FE model of the cabinet using the ABAQUS platform was extremely reconciled with shaking table tests. As a result, the dynamic properties of the cabinet were sensitive to electrical instruments, such as relays and switchboards, during the shaking table test. In addition, the amplification with respect to the vibration transfer function of the cabinet was observed on the third floor in the cabinet due to localized impact corresponding to the rocking phenomenon of the cabinet under Reg.1.60 and UHS. Overall, the rocking of the cabinet system can be caused by the low-frequency oscillations and higher peak horizontal acceleration.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.84-92
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• 2022

In Part I, developed was a method to obtain the stress field due to an edge dislocation that locates in an elastic half plane beneath the contact edge of an elastically similar square wedge. Essential result was the corrective functions which incorporate a traction free condition of the free surfaces. In the sequel to Part I, features of the corrective functions, F_kij,(k = x, y;i,j = x,y) are investigated in this Part II at first. It is found that F_xxx(ŷ) = F_xyx(ŷ) where ŷ = y/η and η being the location of an edge dislocation on the y axis. When compared with the corrective functions derived for the case of an edge dislocation at x = ξ, analogy is found when the indices of y and x are exchanged with each other as can be readily expected. The corrective functions are curve fitted by using the scatter data generated using a numerical technique. The algebraic form for the curve fitting is designed as F_kij(ŷ) = $\frac{1}{\hat{y}^{1-{\lambda}}I+yp}$$\sum_{q=0}^{m}{\left}$$\left[A_q\left(\frac{\hat{y}}{1+\hat{y}} \right)^q \right]$ where λ_I=0.5445, the eigenvalue of the adhesive complete contact problem introduced in Part I. To investigate the exponent of F_kij, i.e.(1 - λ_I) and p, Log|F_kij|(ŷ)-Log|(ŷ)| is plotted and investigated. All the coefficients and powers in the algebraic form of the corrective functions are obtained using Mathematica. Method of analyzing a surface perpendicular crack emanated from the complete contact edge is explained as an application of the curve-fitted corrective functions.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.179-192
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• 2023

We have studied the structural and optical properties of the non-doped and Co 0.08 at.%, Co 0.02 at.%, and Co 0.11 at.% doped ZnO nanorods (NRs) synthesized using the simple low-temperature chemical bath deposition (CBD) method at 95℃ for 2 hours. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images confirmed the morphology of the ZnO NRs are affected by Co incorporation. As observed, the Co 0.08 at.% doped ZnO NRs have a larger dimension with an average diameter of 153.4 nm. According to the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) number #00-036-1451, the x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of non-doped and Co-doped ZnO NRs with the preferred orientation of ZnO NRs in the (002) plane possess polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure with the space group P63mc. Optical absorbance indicates the Co 0.08 at.% doped ZnO NRs have stronger and blueshift bandgap energy (3.104 ev). The room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnO NRs exhibited excitonicrelates ultraviolet (UV) and defect-related green band (GB) emissions. By calculating the UV/GB intensity, the Co 0.08 at.% is the proper atomic percentage to have fewer intrinsic defects. We predict that Co-doped ZnO NRs induce a blueshift of near band edge (NBE) emission due to the Burstein-Moss effect. Meanwhile, the redshift of NBE emission is attributed to the modification of the lattice dimensions and exchange energy.