2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate major in Nuclear Engineering
Experiments for Material Engineering in Nuclear Non-proliferation and Decommissioning A
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Nuclear Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Katsumi Yoshida / Shintaro Yasui / Hiroki Takasu
- Class Format
- Experiment
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- NCL.D401
- Number of credits
- 001
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Students learn the basic principles of materials analysis and physical properties evaluation for solid materials required to the regulations including safeguards and nuclear security for nuclear plants, and decommissioning of nuclear reactors using the text. Students also learn fundamentals of handling non-sealed radioisotopes, contamination tests and decontamination, exposure prevention of exposure etc. Students use a cutting machine, a polishing machine and a mortar in a hood and a glove box to prepare the evaluation radioactive samples. Students identify the crystalline phases and calculate the lattice parameters of the radioactive materials with XRD, and measure their thermal conductivity by laser-flash method. In addition, tensile test for zircaloy used as fuel cladding tube material and other metallic materials is conducted under hydrothermal condition, and the effect of environment on mechanical properties of materials is learned. Furthermore, simulated fuel debris is prepared, and their crystalline phases are identified with XRD and their hardness is measured with hardness tester, and students understand the properties of fuels debris.
Course description and aims
Students learn evaluation methods for solid materials required to the regulations including safeguards and nuclear security for nuclear plants, and decommissioning of nuclear reactors by conducting experiments using radioactive ceramic samples. Students also learn how to handle radioactive materials, decontaminate, and evaluate personal dosage. (The content of Experiments for Material Engineering in Nuclear Non-proliferation and Decommissioning A is the same as B. A student can register either A or B)
Keywords
Experiment, Radioactive materials, Radiation control area, Protection of radiation exposure, Properties of solids, Thermal property, Mechanical property, Radiation damage
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
1) In the first lecture, fundamentals of controlled area, handling radioactive isotopes, evaluation of materials properties, and outline of this experiment are explained.
2) Experiments are conducted according to the textbook distributed in this experiment.
3) Attendance of students is checked in every class. Tardiness is not permitted.
4) Participants are divided into several groups in the experiment, and the experiment is conducted under the guidance of instructors and TAs.
5) After the completion of this experimental course, each student must prepare and submit a report.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Fundamentals of controlled area and handling RI, basic principles of physical properties evaluation, outline of the experiment, preparation of the experiment | Understand the fundamentals of controlled area and handling RI, basic principles of physical properties evaluation |
| Class 2 | Cold-run experiment (XRD, Thermal diffusivity measurement), Cutting, polishing and crushing non-radioative samples, Decontamination, Smear survey | Understand the necessity and the importance of cold-run, how to decontaminate and how to evaluate the surface contamination density by smear survey |
| Class 3 | Cutting, polishing and crushing radioactive samples, XRD, Thermal diffusivity measurement, Decontamination, Smear survey (1) | Understand how to handle radioactive materials and the effect of environment on mechanical properties of materials |
| Class 4 | Cutting, polishing and crushing radioactive samples, XRD, Thermal diffusivity measurement, Decontamination, Smear survey (2) | Understand how to handle radioactive materials and the effect of environment on mechanical properties of materials |
| Class 5 | Preparation of simulated fuel debris, XRD, Hardness measurement | Understand the properties of simulated fuel debris |
| Class 6 | Tensile test under hydrothermal condition, Microstructural observation of the samples after tensile test under hydrothermal condition, XRD | Understand the environment of nuclear reactor core and the corrosion of materials, Understand how to observe the microstructure of the samples and how to identify the crystalline phases of the samples |
| Class 7 | Evaluation of personal dosage (external and internal exposures) | Understand how to evaluate personal dosage, Prepare and submit the report |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend a certain length of time outside of class on preparation and review (including for assignments), as specified by the Tokyo Institute of Technology Rules on Undergraduate Learning (東京工業大学学修規程) and the Tokyo Institute of Technology Rules on Graduate Learning (東京工業大学大学院学修規程), for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Text is provided at the first class.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Shown in the text.
Evaluation methods and criteria
1) Student's course score are based on the attitude for experiments and final report.
2) Full attendance and completion of all experiments are compulsory.
Related courses
- NCL.N403 ： Nuclear Materials and Structures
Prerequisites
You need registration as radiation works (category A) because this experiment are conducted in the controlled area, and you handle non-sealed radioactive materials.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Katsumi Yoshida k-yoshida[at]zc.iir.isct.ac.jp
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.