The strong correlation between the density and the physical and mechanical properties of graphite suggests that the method of nondestructive density evaluation could be developed into a characterization technique of great value for the overall improvement of the safety of graphite moderator reactors. In this study, the oxidation-induced density changes in nuclear graphite for very high temperature reactor were determined by a conventional destructive bulk density measurement method (BM) and by a new nondestructive method based on acoustic microscopy and image processing (AM). The results were compared in order to validate the applicability of the latter method. For a direct comparison of the results from both measurements, two specimens were prepared from a cylindrical graphite sample (1 in. diameter and 1 in. height, oxidized to 10% weight loss at 973 K in air for 5 h). The specimens were used for characterization by BM and AM methods, respectively. The results show that, even with a large standard deviation of the AM, the density changing trend from both methods appeared the same. The present observation may be attributed to the fact that AM images reflect characteristic density changes of the graphite sample through the acoustic impedance changes. This study demonstrates the possibility of using AM as a nondestructive technique for the evaluation of density changes in graphite when a database is prepared through a systematic series of experiments.
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e-mail: shchi@kaeri.re.kr
e-mail: contescuci@ornl.gov
e-mail: burchelltd@ornl.gov
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September 2009
Research Papers
Density Change of an Oxidized Nuclear Graphite by Acoustic Microscopy and Image Processing
Se-Hwan Chi,
Se-Hwan Chi
Nuclear Hydrogen Development and Demonstration Project,
e-mail: shchi@kaeri.re.kr
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
, 1045 Daedeok-daero, Daejeon, 305-353 South Korea
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Cristian I. Contescu,
Cristian I. Contescu
Materials Science and Technology Division,
e-mail: contescuci@ornl.gov
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831
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Timothy D. Burchell
Timothy D. Burchell
Materials Science and Technology Division,
e-mail: burchelltd@ornl.gov
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831
Search for other works by this author on:
Se-Hwan Chi
Nuclear Hydrogen Development and Demonstration Project,
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
, 1045 Daedeok-daero, Daejeon, 305-353 South Koreae-mail: shchi@kaeri.re.kr
Cristian I. Contescu
Materials Science and Technology Division,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831e-mail: contescuci@ornl.gov
Timothy D. Burchell
Materials Science and Technology Division,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831e-mail: burchelltd@ornl.gov
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Sep 2009, 131(5): 052904 (4 pages)
Published Online: June 10, 2009
Article history
Received:
November 5, 2008
Revised:
November 18, 2008
Published:
June 10, 2009
Citation
Chi, S., Contescu, C. I., and Burchell, T. D. (June 10, 2009). "Density Change of an Oxidized Nuclear Graphite by Acoustic Microscopy and Image Processing." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. September 2009; 131(5): 052904. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3098415
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