Basket Material Research Articles

Effects of the Amount of Mg on the Precipitation Behavior of β Phase and Its Modeling in Al–Mn–Mg Alloys

Al–Mn–Mg alloys have been considered as the most suitable basket material of transport and storage casks for spent nuclear fuels. However, the Mg content should be defined with consideration of their prospective heat histories; e.g. exponentially decreasing in temperature from about 200°C to 100°C during the fuel storage up to 60 years. In this research, precipitation behavior of β phase (Al3Mg2) in Al–Mn–Mg alloys was analyzed at various temperatures, focusing on the effects of the amount of Mg. Time-temperature-precipitation (TTP) diagrams for these alloys were depicted by a model which had been developed based on classical nucleation theory. The TTP diagrams were further rebuilt to “degree of supersaturation-diffusion length-precipitation (SLP) diagram”, where the degree of supersaturation (S) and diffusion length multiplied by cubic root of Mg concentration (L*′) were involved for predicting the starting condition of precipitation. From the SLP diagram, Mg content of 1.0 mass% was found to be able to maintain sufficiently the solid solution strengthening for 60 years.

Material selection and weaving techniques for the oldest basketry in Japan found at the Higashimyou site, Saga Prefecture

Compared with North America or northern Africa, prehistoric basketry has rarely been studied in East Asia. Even in Japan where plant remains excavated from lowland sites have been studied extensively in the past thirty years, the study of basketry lagged behind that of other wooden artifacts, and materials of less than 1000 baskets of the Jomon period have been identified versus more than 21,300 wooden artifacts and 32,500 natural woods of the same period so far identified. The Higashimyou site in Saga prefecture of western Japan yielded over 700 baskets including basket fragments of the initial Jomon period from 8000 to 7300 cal BP and provided a good material to examine the material selection and basketry technique of the incipient basketry manufacture in Japan. The identification of basket materials revealed that large baskets were made mostly with splints of two arboreal species, Sapindus mukorossi and Ficus erecta, and that small ones were made mostly with stems of two vine species, Sinomenium acutum and Trachelospermum. The basketry techniques used at this site showed that the bodies of the baskets were made by various types of twill, weave, and twining, and that the bodies of large ones were usually made of two kinds of technique across belts in the middle of the bodies. The employment of various basketry techniques at this site showed that most of the basketry techniques used in later Jomon and following periods were already established in the initial Jomon period. Occurrences of remains of the material plants around the site, the archaeological record of these plants in Japan, and floristic studies of present Japan indicated that appropriate materials used for the baskets were not easily available around the site and that some kind of resources management for basketry materials must have existed around the settlement.

What Really Is “Harávola”—Solving the Mystery of the Most Common Basket Material in Madagascar

What Really Is “Harávola”—Solving the Mystery of the Most Common Basket Material in Madagascar

Basket criticality design of a dual purpose cask for VVER 1000 spent fuel assemblies

Abstract Dual purpose cask technology is one of the most prominent options for interim storage of spent fuels following their removal from reactors. Criticality safety of the spent fuel assemblies are ensured by design of the basket within these casks. In this study, a set of criticality design calculations of a dual purpose cask for 12 VVER 1000 spent fuel assemblies of Bushehr nuclear power plant were carried out. The basket material of borated stainless steel with 0.5 to 2.5 wt% of boron and Boral (Al-B4C) with 1.5 to 40 wt% of boron carbide, were investigated and the minimum required receptacle pitch of the basket was determined. Using the calculated receptacle pitch of the basket, the minimum required diameter of the cavity could be established.

Effect of a dual-purpose cask payload increment of spent fuel assemblies from VVER 1000 Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on basket criticality

Dual-purpose casks can be utilized for dry interim storage and transportation of the highly radioactive spent fuel assemblies (SFAs) of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Criticality safety analysis was carried out using the MCNP code for the cask containing 12, 18, or 19 SFAs. The basket materials of borated stainless steel and Boral (Al-B4C) were investigated, and the minimum required receptacle pitch of the basket was determined.

Thermal modeling of a vertical dry storage cask for used nuclear fuel

Thermal modeling of temperature profiles of dry casks has been identified as a high-priority item in a U.S. Department of Energy gap analysis. In this work, a three-dimensional model of a vertical dry cask has been constructed for computer simulation by using the ANSYS/FLUENT code. The vertical storage cask contains a welded canister for 32 Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) used-fuel assemblies with a total decay heat load of 34kW. To simplify thermal calculations, an effective thermal conductivity model for a 17×17 PWR used (or spent)-fuel assembly was developed and used in the simulation of thermal performance. The effects of canister fill gas (helium or nitrogen), internal pressure (1–6atm), and basket material (stainless steel or aluminum alloy) were studied to determine the peak cladding temperature (PCT) and the canister surface temperatures (CSTs).The results showed that high thermal conductivity of the basket material greatly enhances heat transfer and reduces the PCT. The results also showed that natural convection affects both PCT and the CST profile, while the latter depends strongly on the type of fill gas and canister internal pressure. Of particular interest to condition and performance monitoring is the identification of canister locations where significant temperature change occurs after a canister is breached and the fill gas changes from high-pressure helium to ambient air. This study provided insight on the thermal performance of a vertical storage cask containing high-burnup fuel, and helped advance the concept of monitoring CSTs as a means to detect helium leakage from a welded canister. The effects of blockage of air inlet vents on the cask's thermal performance were studied. The simulation were validated by comparing the results against data obtained from the temperature measurements of a commercial cask.

The design, fabrication and safety evaluation of a novel spent fuel storage basket material

A novel LiF, Sm2O3, Gd2O3/carbon fibre/polyimide material was designed in order to improve the neutron absorbing performance of the spent fuel storage basket in this paper. The volume fraction of three kinds of neutron absorbers (LiF, Sm2O3and Gd2O3) in polyimide was optimised by Monte Carlo method. Calculation results showed that the novel neutron-absorbing material, in which the volume ratio of LiF, Sm2O3and Gd2O3 was 1:2:13, can achieve the best absorption capacity. Based on the calculated results, the basket material was fabricated by compression moulding, and its mechanical behaviour, thermal behaviour, and irradiation resistant behaviour were evaluated, respectively. The experimental results proved that the tensile strength of the novel neutron-absorbing material was between 195 and 346MPa and the maximum service temperature was up to 300°C. Gamma irradiation dose was limited to 160kGy, the bending strength of the material kept increasing from 10 to 19MPa.

Development of a Low-Cost Icebox for Preservation and Transportation of Iced Fish

A low-cost icebox was developed and its efficacy in icing fish was evaluated in order to minimize huge post-harvest loss and ensure adequate price of wet fish through quality maintenance. Traditional bamboo basket capable of containing 25-30 kg fresh fish was wrapped inside, bottom and top twice by polythene gunny sacs. In between the two layers of gunny sacs, a layer of plant leave mat (hogla mat) and a layer of old nylon net/cloths were placed for insulation. A small plastic pipe (1 cm diameter, 60 cm long) was inserted through the bottom to drain out melted water. The rear end of the pipe was kept fasten with the rim of the basket. To keep the iced fish inside of the wrapped basket, a separate plain polythene sheet was used. Freshly caught Puntius sophore (5.8 ± 0.4 cm) and Cirrhinus mrigala (16.4 ± 1.3 cm) were preserved under adequate icing for 7 to 10 days. Temperature of the iced fish inside was maintained between 0.4o to 3.1oC. Freshness of the fish kept in the new icebox during preservation and transportation was investigated through sensory and biochemical methods. No chance of secondary contamination was found in new ice box because the fish could not come in contact of the basket materials. The device was very easy to clean and keep clean. Shape of filled icebox was found regular and stout with no sign of breakage and leakage. Rate of melting of ice was 23.0 ± 1.6% in 24 hours. Replacement of ice was done at such rate. Melted water was adequately drained out. Iced C. mrigala and P. sophore kept in the icebox were in excellent quality in terms of both sensory and biochemical indicators till the end of 7th or 10th day, respectively. The study suggested that the new icebox was effective in preserving and transporting iced fish.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v19i2.16952 Progress. Agric. 19(2): 119 - 127, 2008

Mechanical Properties of BC-A6N01SS-T1 for Basket Material of Transport and Storage Cask

BC-A6N01SS-T1 is an aluminum alloy with boron carbide particles uniformly dispersed in it. In order to apply this material to basket of spent nuclear fuel cask, registration to the “Rules on Transport / Storage Packagings for Spent Nuclear Fuel(JSME S FA1-2007)” is required. After the designated material testings required for the registration, this article exclusively describes effects of thermal aging and irradiation on mechanical properties of the basket material, which are especially important factors in long-term reliability as a basket material. Consequently, allowable design stress has been determined by considering reduction in strength during thermal aging based on results of accelerated aging test. On the other hand, it was found that irradiation level assumed for the basket material for storage of sixty years did not significantly affect tensile properties of BC-A6N01SS-T1.

Basket materials used from the Jomon period to the Muromachi period in Japan

Basket materials used from the Jomon period to the Muromachi period in Japan

C84 Destruction of stones in the kidney, bladder and ureter without harming catheter and basket material using an innovative low-energy laser shockwave mode

C84 Destruction of stones in the kidney, bladder and ureter without harming catheter and basket material using an innovative low-energy laser shockwave mode

Novel materials and surface investigations for optimizing dough carrier interactions

In this study, different proofing basket materials were investigated regarding their adhesion to dough, their starting point of stickiness, and their microbiological contamination. First, the materials were checked for their adhesive forces according to a stickiness determination method developed by Chen and Hoseney. Then the change of the adhesive forces of proofing basket materials and dough with time was investigated. The effect of relative air humidity and proofing temperature on the starting point of stickiness was examined. It was found that with increasing temperature the time for the dough starting point of stickiness decreases. Also, the demand for a low bioburden of a proofing basket was measured with a proofing cycle. For simulation of industrial requirements of materials this proofing cycle was repeated up to seven times. Adhesive film test and counting of colony-forming units were used to characterize the materials.

The Original "Free Trade": Exchange of Botanical Products and Associated Plant Knowledge in Northwestern North America

Abstract: Long-standing and far-reaching trade networks for culturally important plants are documented for British Columbia and neighbouring areas from archaeological, historical and ethnographic records, as well as recollections of contemporary Aboriginal people. Plant resources and products manufactured from plants comprised a substantial portion of traditional and contemporary traded goods. Examples include: dried edible seaweed, commonly traded from coastal communities inland; dried soapberries, saskatoon berries and other berries; hazelnuts; cedar-root and cedar-bark baskets; basket materials; and Indian-hemp fibre and twine. In addition to the plant materials, knowledge associated with these resources was exchanged, and trade has had cultural and ecological implications extending well beyond simple subsistence.Resume: Dans cet article nous presentons les reseaux d'echange, de longue date et de grande portee, de plantes culturellement importantes de la Colombie britannique et de regions adjacentes a partir de sources archeologiques, historiques et ethnographiques et de souvenirs d'autochtones contemporains. Les ressources vegetales et les produits d'origine vegetale formaient une partie substantielle des produits echanges traditionnellement et de facon contemporaine. Les exemples presentes incluent: les algues marines comestibles sechees, echanges couramment entre les communautes de la cote et celles de l'interieur; les pommes de savon, les petites poires et autres petits fruits seches; les noisettes; les paniers en racine de cedre et en ecorce de cedre; les materiaux pour fabriquer les paniers; et la fibre et le fil du chanvre du Canada. En plus des materiaux d'origine vegetale, des connaissances associees a ces ressources etaient echangees. L'echange cut de nombreux effets cultureIs et ecologiques et n'etait pas restreint a la simple subsistance.Introduction Trade between villages was necessary to provide a continuous supply of food and accumulate wealth. Goods were exchanged by sharing, bartering, or trading a gift for a gift. Trade included sharing land that had a profusion of berries or hunting grounds full of game. As there was an abundance of seafood on the coast, and similarly, an excess of meat and berries among the Gitksans, the exchange offered variety in our diets. (Watts, 1997: 1)Indigenous peoples around the world have a cultural heritage that includes extensive and intimate familiarity with their local environments. Such knowledge is an essential attribute of societies that not only have survived, but have thrived, in close connection with the natural world (Inglis, 1993; Williams and Baines, 1993). However, few, if any, natural environments provide a complete and reliable array of resources to a given group of people at a given time. Trade has long been recognized as a means of countering instabilities in resource supply and abundance, and of introducing variety to those resources. Indigenous peoples of North America certainly have been well acquainted with the advantages of trade. Archaeological and historical records show that they developed extensive and sophisticated trading networks and institutions dating back thousands of years. However, the pervasive nature of Indigenous trade, and its many implications both before and after contact have rarely been explicitly considered. In particular, the importance of exchange of various types of plant resources, technologies and knowledge has received little direct attention.In this study, we discuss plant exchange, in a broad context, among Indigenous peoples of British Columbia and adjacent areas. General characteristics of this exchange are delineated, as well as its cultural and ecological significance both in the past and today. Information is derived from available archaeological, ethnographic and historical data, as well as documented consultations with Aboriginal people in recent decades. …

Utilizing Computer Assisted Instruction in Training School Administrators

The preparation of school administrators has ad vanced progressively over the years, and yet shares a common fault with training programs in other fields. The fault lies in the discrepancy between laboratory experience and the actual demands of the job. Prac titioners often find that their training does not provide them with the realistic tools necessary to function effec tively. The training, especially if happens to be at the university level, often is later discovered to have been inconsistent with the actualities of current job require ments. Training programs in school administration have in many instances failed to keep pace with technological advances. The belief that the administrator works with people, not with technology, and that only his skills in human engineering are significant to job performance, is too limited for today's world. The preparation of educational administrators must, in some manner, en compass the development of two distinct skills : ( 1 ) the ability to direct the educational program in a social setting, and (2) the ability to direct the educational pro gram in a technological setting. This paper, while recog nizing the importance of the first of these abilities, is comcerned primarily with the second. Bruner sets the stage for the administrator in train ing when he states that we are increasingly concerned with the nature of the educational process, with educa tional goals, with the impact of change, and with the available techniques and devices for improving the edu cational enterprise. To the outside observer, he says, it must seem as if we were preparing to embark upon a permanent revolution in education.1 The school administrator is caught in this revolu tion whether he likes or not. The student in training faces an administrative career in which the throes of revolutionary ideas and decisions involving technology are to be his daily routine. During the period since 1955 several significant types of material and methodology have been designed to strengthen the training programs of administrators. The direction taken was intended t? include a greater degree of reality in the programs developed. The initial major use of simulated materials in educational administration is credited by some to Sargent and Belisle. Their book developed for the Harvard Administrative Career Program first demonstrated the case method to teaching school administrators.2 The Madison In basket materials,3 prepared eight years later for the Uni versity Council for Educational Administration and now used by many training programs, appear to be a second reference point. Bunderson and Bessent at the Universiy of Texas have devised a computerized in-basket exercise4 that is based on the information retrieval capability of the computer. The Negotiations Game developed by Horvat5 as an aid in learning the negotiation process recently demonstrated a new approach to materials de signed to introduce new elements of realism into in structional practice. These few examples seem to indi cate a trend toward supplementing printed textbook material with increased use of games, devices, and tech nology in an effort to obtain an increased level of reality in the instructional process. The writers, with experience in the method approach and with a strong conviction that computers are making a major impact on education, determined in May of 1968 to supplement an existing program for training school administrators by developing a demon stration computer-based exercise for students of school administration. The rationale for this project, conducted under a local grant from Texas A&M University, was: 1) School systems are moving rapidly into the use of computers for the handling of administrative data. 2) Computer equipment is becoming increasingly avail able to public school administrators. 3) Instruction by computer is being introduced in simpli fied form in many school systems. 4) Administrators need to know more about the capa bilities and the limitations of this media of instruc tion. 5) The best method of enabling school administrators to know something about computer assisted instruction is to provide personal experience at the computer terminal.

Microanalysis and Identification of a Basket Fragment from Sonora, Mexico

ABSTRACTA basket fragment found in a cave between Guaymas and Hermosillo, Sonora, is analyzed to determine identification of plant material used for construction. Microanalysis shows that the fragment is composed of young xylem of Jatropha cuneatay the traditional basket material of the Seri.