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Effects of Radiation on Materials in a Nuclear Reactor. Amy Ging Van Vleck High School / Van Vleck ISD Dr. Lin Shao Department of Nuclear Engineering. Nuclear Reactor. Effects of Radiation on Steel in the Reactor Vessel. Steel under radiation.
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Effects of Radiation on Materials in a Nuclear Reactor Amy Ging Van Vleck High School / Van Vleck ISD Dr. Lin Shao Department of Nuclear Engineering
Effects of Radiation on Steel in the Reactor Vessel Steel under radiation Irradiation Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking (IASCC) Radiation + Stress + Environment
From the Lab to the Classroom • In the lab, we are measuring the resistance and resistivity of materials before they are exposed to radiation and after they are exposed to radiation • Resistivity is a measure of how many defects radiation has caused in the material that it has come in contact with • In the classroom, we will perform the same experiments and calculate the resistance and resistivity of provided samples
The Plan…Day One • Introduction / Overview • What is radiation? • How does it affect us in our daily lives? • Radiation Applications – medical, electricity • Tie in with IPC class discussion on the periodic table and radioactive elements
Day Two What is the South Texas Project? • What do they do out there? • How much? • Who uses it? • Why do we care? • What are the concerns? • Diagram of Plant • Pictures of Damage Homework will be a research project over nuclear power in the United States.
Effects of Radiation on Steel in the Reactor Vessel Steel under radiation Irradiation Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking (IASCC) Radiation + Stress + Environment
Day Three • Introduction to Resistance and Resistivity • Resistance V=I R • Resistivity ρ=2πsR • Homework over both equations, with information provided, solving for one variable
Day Four • Hands – On Day (in IPC lab) • Looking at periodic table, which sample should react the least to radiation? Is this material a good choice for use in a reactor? • Use Four Point Probe to measure resistance of provided samples • Work at least one example together as a class • Homework over both equations again, this time over results found in the lab
Day Five • Review of Resistance and Resistivity Activity • What did the results mean? Which sample would react least to radiation? • Conclusion of Information • Career opportunities at STP • Education necessary for those careers • Salary information for careers • Possible speaker from STP on this day
Algebra I TEKS and TAKS Covered • a(2) – Algebraic thinking and symbolic reasoning • a(3) – Function concepts • a(4) – Relationship between equations and functions • b(1)B – Gather and record data • b(1)D – Represent relationships • b(1)E – Interpret and make decisions • b(3)A – Use symbols to represent unknowns
Sample Pre-Test Questions Use the following equation to solve problems 4-5, A=l * w 4. Solve the equation for l. a. l=A*w c. l=A/w b. l * w= A d. l=w/A 5. Solve the equations for w. a. w=A/l c. w=l * A b. l= A/w d. w= l/A
What did I learn this summer? • A very broad understanding of the engineering field • A very narrow understanding of nuclear engineering, particle acceleration and the effects of radiation on materials
And most importantly… • Research is a slow process, filled with ups and downs, starts and stops, successes and failures. • But there is no such thing as failure in research, because we learn from every failure.
Acknowledgements • My family • My co-workers and administration • E3 • Nuclear Power Institute • National Science Foundation • Chevron • Texas Workforce Commission
BIG Thanks to…. • Dr. Lin Shao • Mark Hollander • Michael Martin, Di Chen, Assel Aitkaliyeva • Drew Mitchell, Josh Willis, Josey Wallace, Ethan Windsor, McIan Amos, Michael General, Alvaro Aranibar, Danny Galicki