• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.268-279
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• 2018

The ALCYONE multidimensional fuel performance code codeveloped by the CEA, EDF, and AREVA NP within the PLEIADES software environment models the behavior of fuel rods during irradiation in commercial pressurized water reactors (PWRs), power ramps in experimental reactors, or accidental conditions such as loss of coolant accidents or reactivity-initiated accidents (RIAs). As regards the latter case of transient in particular, ALCYONE is intended to predictively simulate the response of a fuel rod by taking account of mechanisms in a way that models the physics as closely as possible, encompassing all possible stages of the transient as well as various fuel/cladding material types and irradiation conditions of interest. On the way to complying with these objectives, ALCYONE development and validation shall include tests on $PWR-UO_2$ fuel rods with advanced claddings such as M5(R) under "low pressure-low temperature" or "high pressure-high temperature" water coolant conditions. This article first presents ALCYONE V1.4 RIA-related features and modeling. It especially focuses on recent developments dedicated on the one hand to nonsteady water heat and mass transport and on the other hand to the modeling of grain boundary cracking-induced fission gas release and swelling. This article then compares some simulations of RIA transients performed on $UO_2$-M5(R) fuel rods in flowing sodium or stagnant water coolant conditions to the relevant experimental results gained from tests performed in either the French CABRI or the Japanese NSRR nuclear transient reactor facilities. It shows in particular to what extent ALCYONE-starting from base irradiation conditions it itself computes-is currently able to handle both the first stage of the transient, namely the pellet-cladding mechanical interaction phase, and the second stage of the transient, should a boiling crisis occur. Areas of improvement are finally discussed with a view to simulating and analyzing further tests to be performed under prototypical PWR conditions within the CABRI International Program. M5(R) is a trademark or a registered trademark of AREVA NP in the USA or other countries.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.213-213
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate types and formation mechanism of cracks in two Al alloy welds, A5083 and A7NO1 spot-welded by pulse Nd: YAG laser, using SEM, EPMA and Micro-XRD. In the weld zone, three types of crack were observed: center line crack($C_{C}$), diagonal crack($C_{D}$), and U shape crack($C_{U}$). Also, HAZ crack($C_{H}$), was observed in the HAZ region, furthermore, mixing crack($C_{M}$), consisting of diagonal crack and HAZ crack was observed.White film was formed at the hot crack region in the fractured surface after it was immersed to 10%NaOH water. In the case of A5083 alloy, white films in C crack and $C_D crack region were composed of low melting phases, Fe₂Si$Al_8$ and eutectic phases, Mg₂Al₃ and Mg₂Si. Such films observed near HAZ crack were also consist of eutectic Mg₂Al₃. In the case of A7N01 alloy, eutectic phases of CuAl₂, $Mg_{32}$ (Al,Zn) ₃, MgZn₂, Al₂CuMg and Mg₂Si were observed in the whitely etched films near $C_{C}$ crack and $C_{D}$ crack regions. The formation of liquid films was due to the segregation of Mg, Si, Fe in the case of A5083 alloy and Zn, Mg, Cu, Si in the case of A7N01 aooly, respectively.The $C_{D}$ and $C_{C}$ cracks were regarded as a result of the occurrence of tensile strain during the welding process. The formation of $C_{M}$ crack is likely to be due to the presence of liquid film at the grain boundary near the fusion line in the base metal as well as in the weld fusion zone during solidification. The $C_{U}$ crack is considered a result of the collapsed keyhole through incomplete closure during rapid solidification. (Received October 7, 1999)

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.4 no.7
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• pp.775-782
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• 1994

Influence of $TiO_{2}$ addition on sintering behavior and microstructure of MgO-$ZrO_{2}$ composites was studied. $ZrO_{2}$ containing 3mol%Y203 was existed as a c-$ZrO_{2}$ phase due to the formation of solubility of MgO, $TiO_{2}$ and $ZrO_{2}$ when sintered $1400^{\circ}C$ for 2h. All the compositions employed exhibited a similar shrinkage behavior with an end-point shrinkage between 8.58 and 11.00%. The additlon of $TiO_{2}$ promoted densification and the bulk density of specimen containing 1.67wt% $TiO_{2}$ was 3.75g/$\textrm{cm}^3$(98% TD) when $1600^{\circ}C$ for 2h. The amount of solubilities of MgO and TiOz in $ZrO_{2}$ were 5.ti7wt% and 2.62wt%,respectively. They were partially segregated near $ZrO_{2}$ grain boundary in the form of Ti-compounds during cooling. This segregation resulted in the formation microcracks which decreased the bending strength.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.1252-1262
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• 1999

The effect of microstructures on the strength-flangeability of Nb bearing hot-rolled high strength steel was investigated in order to improve the strength-flangeability of conventional TS 580MPa grades HSLA steel for the automotive wheel disc. The low temperature coiling method using 3-step controlled cooling pattern after hot rolling was effective to produce the Nb-bearing high strength steel with the polygonal ferrite and bainite duplex microstructures. It was suggested that the suppressed precipitation of grain boundary cementites and the decreased hardness difference between ferrite matrix and bainite cause the excellent stretch-flangeability of ferrite-bainite duplex microstructure steel. Therefore, the formation and propagation of microcracks were suppressed relative to the conventional HSLA steel with ferrite and pearlite microstructure. In addition, the elongation was improved as compared with that of hot-rolled steel sheets using conventional early cooling pattern because the volume fraction of polygonal ferrite was increased.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.513-522
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• 2013

The ODSCC detected in the TSP position of Ulchin 3&4 SGs are typical ODSCC of Alloy 600MA tubes. The causative chemical environment is formed by concentration of impurities inside the occluded region formed by the tube surface, egg crate strips, and sludge deposit there. Most cracks are detected at or near the line contacts between the tube surface and the egg crate strips. The region of dense crack population, as defined as between $4^{th}$ and $9^{th}$ TSPs, and near the center of hot leg hemisphere plane, coincided well with the region of preferential sludge deposition as defined by thermal hydraulics calculation using SGAP computer code. The cracks developed homogeneously in a wide range of SGs, so that the number of cracks detected each outage increased very rapidly since the first detection in the $8^{th}$ refueling outage. The root cause assessment focused on investigation of the difference in microstructure and manufacturing residual stress in order to reveal the cause of different susceptibilities to ODSCC among identical six units. The manufacturing residual stress as measured by XRD on OD surface and by split tube method indicated that the high residual stress of Alloy 600MA tube played a critical role in developing ODSCC. The level of residual stress showed substantial variations among the six units depending on details of straightening and OD grinding processes. Youngwang 3&4 tubes are less susceptible to ODSCC than U3 and U4 tubes because semi-continuous coarse chromium carbides are formed along the grain boundary of Y3&4 tubes, while there are finer less continuous chromium carbides in U3 and U4. The different carbide morphology is caused by the difference in cooling rate after mill anneal. There is a possibility that high chromium content in the Y3&4 tubes, still within the allowable range of Alloy 600, has made some contribution to the improved resistance to ODSCC. It is anticipated that ODSCC in Y5&6 SGs will be retarded more considerably than U3 SGs since the manufacturing residual stress in Y5&6 tubes is substantially lower than in U3 tubes, while the microstructure is similar with each other.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2023

In general, the presence of non-selective intercrystalline (grain boundary) defects in polycrystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) or zeolite membranes, which are known to be ca. 1 nm in size, causes lower membrane performance (selectivity) than the intrinsically expected. In this study we show that applying a thin polymeric coating of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on a polycrystalline MOF membrane is effective to cap the non-selective intercrystalline defects and therefore improve membrane performance. To demonstrate the concept, first, polycrystalline UiO-66, one of Zr-based MOFs, membranes were prepared by an in-situ solvothermal growth. By controlling membrane growth condition with respect to growth temperature, we were able to obtain polycrystalline UiO-66 membranes at 150 ℃ with intercrystalline defects of which the quantity is not significant, so it can be plugged by the suggested PDMS deposition. Second, their performances were compared before and after the PDMS deposition. As expected, the PDMS deposition ended up with a noticeable increase in CO₂/N₂ ideal selectivity from 6 to 14, indicating successful intercrystalline defect plugging. However, the enhancement in CO₂/N₂ selectivity was accompanied by a significant reduction in CO₂ permeance from 5700 to 33 GPU because the PDMS deposition not only plugs defects but also forms a continuous coating on membrane surface, adding an additional transport resistance.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.437-448
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• 2000

The Middle Carboniferous Gabsan Formation is distributed in the Cheongrim area of southern Yeongwol and the Mt. Gachang area of Chungbuk Province. This study was carried out to investigate the lithological characters and geochemical composition of the limestones and to find out controlling structures of the limestones of the formation. The limestones of the Gabsan Formation are characterized by the light gray to light brown in color and fine and dense textures. The limestone grains are composed of crinoid fragments, small foraminfers, fusulinids, gastropods, ostracods, etc. Due to the recrystallization, some limestones consist of fine crystalline calcites. The chemical analysis of limestones of the formation was conducted to find out the contents of CaO, MgO, Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$. The content of CaO ranges from 49.78-60.63% and the content of MgO ranges from 0.74 to 4.63% The contents of Al$_2$O$_3$ and Fe$_2$O$_3$ are 0.02-0.55% and 0.02${\sim}$0.84% , respectively. The content of SiO$_2$ varies from 1.55 to 4.80%, but some samples contain more than 6.0%. The limestones of the formation can be grouped into two according to the CaO content: One is a group of which CaO content ranges from 49.78 to 56.26% and the other is a group of which CaO content varies from 59.36 to 60.38%. In the first group, the contents of Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$ range very irregularly according to the CaO content. In the second group, the values of MgO, Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$ are nearly same. Detailed structural analysis of mesoscopic structures and microstructures indicates the five phase of deformation in the study area. The first phase of deformation(D$_1$) is characterized by regional scale isoclinal folds, and bedding parallel S$_1$ axial plane foliation which is locally developed in the mudstone and sandstone. Based on the observations of microstructures, S$_1$ foliations appear to be developed by grain preferred orientation accompanying pressure-solution. During second phase of deformation, outcrop scale E-W trending folds with associated foliations and lineations are developed. Microstructural observations indicate that crenulation foliations were formed by pressure-solution, grain boundary sliding and grain rotation. NNW and SSE trending outcrop scale folds, axial plane foliations, crenulation foliations, crenulation lineations, intersection lineations are developed during the third phase of deformation. On the microscale F$_3$ fold, axial plane foliations which are formed by pressure solution are well developed. Fourth phase of deformation is characterized by map scale NNW trending folds. The pre-existing planar and linear structures are reoriented by F$_4$ folds. Fifth phase of deformation developed joints and faults. The distribution pattern of the limestones is mostly controlled by F$_1$ and F$_4$ folds.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2002

The effects of $Nd_2O_3$ addition to $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ ceramics with ${\varepsilon}_r$ of 126, $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ of 2240 and of $68\;ppm/^{\circ}C$ on their microwave properties were investigated. For the addition of 5 wt% $Nd_2O_3$, the dielectric constant (${\varepsilon}_r$) showed maximum value of 131, then decreased with the further addition of $Nd_2O_3$. $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ value was still increased to 3533 with 9 wt% $Nd_2O_3$ addition, it is influenced by densification of grain boundary. With more addition of $Nd_2O_3$ up to 18 wt%, the abnormal grain growth have influence on the decreasing of $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ value. But with the further addition of $Nd_2O_3$ over 25 wt%, the $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ value was again increased by the effect of the second phase ($Nd_2Ti_2O_7$) forming. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (${\tau}_f$) was decreased from $+\;68\;ppm/^{\circ}C$ with the addition of $Nd_2O_3$, reached $0\;ppm/^{\circ}C$ at 12 wt% addition, and became negative with the further addition of $Nd_2O_3$. The optimum microwave dielectric properties were obtained for $0.3CaTiO_3-0.7(Li_{1/2}Nd_{1/2})TiO_3$ with 9 wt% $Nd_2O_3$ sintered at $1425^{\circ}C$ for 3 hrs. The dielectric constant (${\varepsilon}_r$), the $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ value, and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (${\tau}_f$) were 108, 3533, and $+\;6\;ppm/^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Fine-grained peridotite xenoliths are rarely trapped in the basaltic rocks from the southeastern part of Jeju Island. Based on textural characteristics of the constituent phases showing uniform-sized, fine-grained tabular to mosaic grains with rare porphyroclastic relics, the studied samples can be defined as fine-grained, foliated porphyroclastic peridotites (FPP). Almost no significant difference among the FPPs in textures and major element compositions implies that the FPPs were derived from a structural domain, experiencing similar deformation events and deformation patterns. Moreover, the bimodal distribution with kink-banded porphyroclasts ($2{\sim}3mm$) and stain-free neoblasts ($200{\sim}300{\mu}m$), straight to gently curved grain boundaries with triple junctions, interstitial melt pockets, and microstructures for migrating grain boundary suggest that the studied samples went through dynamic recrystallization (${\pm}$ static recrystallization) in the presence of melt/fluid movement along foliation planes. No notable difference between the FPP and common protogranular xenoliths in major element compositions and geochemical evolution also implies that the FPP and protogranular xenoliths were from a similar horizon. Thus, the textural and geochemical characteristics of the FPPs reflects deformation events occurred at a localized and narrow zone within the lithospheric mantle beneath the Jeju Island. Although further detailed studies are necessary to define deformation events, the most possible process which could trigger deformation in the FPP in the rigid upper mantle was the ascending basaltic magma forming high-stress deformation zones. The suggested high-stress deformation zones in the lithosphere beneath the Jeju Island may be produced by paleo-faulting events related to the ascent of basalt magma before Jeju Island was formed.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 1998

The specimens used were Ag-25 Pd-15 Cu ternary alloy and Au addition alloy. These alloys were melted and casted by induction electric furnace and centrifugal casting machine in Ar atmosphere. These specimens were solution treated for 2hr at $800^{\circ}C$ and were then quenched into iced water, and aged at $350{\sim}550^{\circ}C$ Age- hardening characteristics of the small Au-containing Ag-Pd-Cu dental alloys were investigated by means of hardness testing. X-ray diffraction and electron microscope observations, electrical resistance, ergy dispersed spectra and electron probe microanalysis. Principal results are as follows : Hardening occured in two stages, i.e., stage I in low temperature and stage II in high temperature regions, during continuous aging. The case of hardening in stage I was due to the formation of the $L1_0$ type face-centered tetragonal PdCu-ordered phase in the grain interior and hardening in stage I was affected by the Cu concentration. In stage II, decomposition of the ${\alpha}$ solid solution to a PdCu ordered phase($L1_0$ type) and an Ag-rich ${\alpha}2$ phase occurred and a discontinuous precipitation occurred at the grain boundary. From the electron microscope study, it was conclued that the cause of age-hardening in this alloy is the precipitation of the PdCu ordered phase, which has AuCu I type face-centered tetragonal structure. Precipetation procedure was ${\alpha}{\to}{\alpha}+{\alpha}_2+PdCu {\to}{\alpha}_1+{\alpha}_2+PdCu$ at Pd/Cu = 1.7 Ag-Pd-Cu alloy is more effective dental alloy as ageing treatment and is suitable to isothermal ageing at $450^{\circ}C$.