Mock-up Test Research Articles

A Study on the Diffusion of Vertical Fire in a Real Scale Type by Stone and Aluminum Panel Finishing Materials

When a fire is completely developed, it expands from the inside of the building to the outside through any opening (s) and spreads to the building exterior, resulting in the loss of many lives and properties. As fire safety performance is affected by the construction methods applied and components of building insulation and finishing materials, this study compared and analyzed the internal and external fire spread performances according to the performance of the insulation material (polyurethane) and types of finishing materials. In this study, a cone calorimeter test was conducted according to the KS F ISO 5660-1 standard, and a full-scale mock-up test of exterior wall composite finishing materials was conducted based on the KS F 8414 standard. Consequently, the total heat release (THR) of polyurethane for 10 min after the start of heating was 5.51 MJ/m<sup>2</sup>. No vertical fire spread occurred in both test specimens to which a stone panel and an aluminum sheet panel were applied; however, the fire spread to the cavity, causing a temperature rise.

Automatic spatial calibration of freehand ultrasound probe with a multilayer N-wire phantom

The classic N-wire phantom has been widely used in the calibration of freehand ultrasound probes. One of the main challenges of the phantom is accurately identifying N-fiducials in ultrasound images, especially with multiple N-wire structures. In this study, a method using a multilayer N-wire phantom for the automatic spatial calibration of ultrasound images is proposed. All dots in the ultrasound image are segmented, scored, and classified according to the unique geometric features of the multilayer N-wire phantom. A recognition method for identifying N-fiducials from the dots is proposed for calibrating the spatial transformation of the ultrasound probe. At depths of 9, 11, 13, and 15 cm, the reconstruction error of 50 points is 1.24 ± 0.16, 1.09 ± 0.06, 0.95 ± 0.08, 1.02 ± 0.05 mm, respectively. The reconstruction mockup test shows that the distance accuracy is 1.11 ± 0.82 mm at a depth of 15 cm.

Status and initial experiments of DRAGON-V facility for lithium-lead blanket technologies of hydrogen fusion reactors

A dual-coolant integrated experimental facility named DRAGON-V has been developed at the Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology, Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for the key technology research and performance evaluation of candidate liquid lithium-lead (PbLi) blanket of hydrogen fusion reactors. The loop is composed of a material test sub-loop and thermal-hydraulic test sub-loop, the design parameters are PbLi inventory 20 tons, PbLi temperature up to 550 °C, the maximum PbLi flow rate up to 40 kg/s. A novel cold trap system is designed to remove the suspended and crystalized impurities in PbLi fluid with three cooling zones and cross row arrangement of rod bundle filter elements. The paper describes the loop itself and its major components, initial loop testing, flow and measurement diagnostics and current experiments. The obtained test results of the loop and its components have demonstrated that the new facility is fully functioning and ready for experimental studies of material corrosion with/without a magnetic field, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect, purification, heat and mass transfer phenomena in PbLi flows and can also be used in mock-up testing in conditions relevant to fusion applications.

Architectural improvements to increase reverberation and reduce flutter echo in two music rehearsal rooms

New music rehearsal rooms at a small college suffered from flutter echo and very short reverberation times. The architecture of these rooms included visually elegant designs which the college wanted to retain if feasible. We coordinated with the college, the architect, and a wood worker to develop concept ideas for improvement which would be cost effective and retain the elegant architectural. By using finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulation and mock-up listening tests, we evaluated the acoustic properties of these concept options. After completion of these tests and simulations, a design was implemented in each room based on acoustic performance and visual impact. We will present measurement results pre- and post-renovation, along with our methodology used for the FDTD analysis and mockup testing.

High-heat-flux performance limit of tungsten monoblock targets: Impact on the armor materials and implications for power exhaust capacity

• Results of the extensive high-heat-flux tests of tungsten monoblock-type divertor target mock-ups are presented. • Impacts of various slow/short transient overloads relevant to European DEMO divertor on the armor materials and the joining interfaces are addressed. • Comprehensive high-quality data comprising in-situ IR thermography, ultrasonic reflectometry and electron microscopy (EBSD) are presented. • Implications of the novel test results for the power exhaust requirements are discussed. Development of a reliable high-heat-flux (HHF) technology is one of the crucial requirements of power exhaust strategy for a fusion reactor. The baseline HHF technology of the EU-DEMO, which inherited mostly the ITER technology, is based on the tungsten monoblock design and hot radial pressing joining technique. Thermal resilience and structural integrity under all off-normal transient events foreseen are essential prerequisites for validation of the technology towards the demonstration of full-scale prototype manufacture. Hence, the HHF performance of the baseline technology needs to be evaluated also in the transient overload regime. To this end, we conducted an extensive HHF testing campaign using small-scale test mock-ups of the tungsten monoblock target for two slow (10s) overloads at 20 MW/m 2 (up to 2000 pulses) and 25 MW/m 2 (1000 pulses), and for a short (0.4s) overload at 40 MW/m 2 (5000 pulses). Furthermore, excessive heat loads (32-37 MW/m 2 ) were applied beyond the armor melting event to test the structural stability at limit loads. IR thermography, ultrasonic inspection and electron microscopy (EBSD) delivered direct information and insight on the structural integrity and the impact on the armor microstructure. It was found that the tungsten monoblock target remained fully intact at least up to 1000 heating cycles at 20 MW/m 2 (10s) and survived 2000 cycles without any major failure. At 25 MW/m 2 (10s), the mock-ups remained nearly intact at least up to 500 heating cycles and survived 1000 cycles without critical failure. However, the armor surface showed substantial deformation roughening with the height of 1000 µm after 1000 cycles. At 40 MW/m 2 with short pulses (0.4s), the mock-ups remained fully intact without any serious damage at least up to 5000 cycles. The mock-ups even withstood the limit heat load of 32 MW/m 2 at least for a few pulses. Under excessive overloads (33-37 MW/m 2 ) above the critical incident heat flux, armor melting preceded any other potential failures (e.g. pipe rupture by coolant boiling).

Automatic maintenance with robotics of the induction melting plant in a cold crucible

The performance of works within the framework of technological operations of the closed nuclear fuel cycle of an industrial power complex is inevitably associated with the effects of an external factors that have a significant impact on the technological process. Thus, human participation should be minimized, mechanical and electromechanical systems should be included in the process, in particular, means of robotics. When creating a deserted technology, the issue of automation of the process comes to the fore, including with the use of robotic systems that solve transport, service, inspection tasks, including tasks directly related to the technological process. Special requirements are also imposed on the materials used. The processing of the vitrification of high-level waste is being considered in this work. Such a glazing site by the IMCC method was created by specialists of JSC «VNIINM». In this work, the analysis of the current technical process of the work of this site is carried out, proposals for optimizing the performance of individual operations are issued, recommendations for retrofitting the site are given. Based on the test results of the demonstration stand, proposals were formulated for the automation of the glazing section, taking into account the environmental factors that take place on a real installation, and taking into account the results obtained as a result of the mock-up tests.

HELB-induced blast wave evaluation based on mock-up tests and numerical analyses

Postulated high energy line breaks have been considered as a part of design of nuclear safety-related structures, systems and components for a long time. However, recently, technical controversy was raised over the adequacy in assumption of complex phenomena and assessment of dynamic loads. This study is to address blast wave evaluation under a typical main steam line break condition of 1,400MWe power plant. At first, a mock-up facility was developed and six tests were performed by changing rupture pressures and target distances. Corresponding computational fluid dynamics analyses were also carried out after optimization of numerical model. Finally, pressure – time histories caused by plant specific blast wave were generated in use of a theoretical correlation, which were applied to finite element analyses of neighboring steam generator and containment wall. Integrity assessment results as well as the details of tests and analyses data were provided, and their applicability was discussed.

Analysis of shear mock-up tests in a canister-clay system for spent nuclear fuel isolation

The aim of this paper is to simulate a canister-buffer mock-up test using the finite element computer code CODE_BRIGHT. The response of a copper canister put inside clay barriers that undergo hydration and swelling till complete saturation was investigated. Although the copper is very stiff and resistant and will be emplaced in a clay volume, shear deformations occurring in the clay barrier may have an impact on the canister. A Mock-up test was carried out in a steel cell at a scale of about 1:10 for assessing the consequences of a shear zone for a copper rod that was surrounded by compacted bentonite as a clay barrier. The challenge problem is to perform the simulation of the mock-up tests under the different shear rates that was carried out by Borgesson (1968). The results might contribute to a better understanding of the real shearing response of the system and validate the constitutive models used for the simulations.For this purpose, the mock-up test was simulated with CODE_BRIGHT in hydro-mechanical couplings in three dimensions. For the model validation, the results of the simulations were compared with the test measurements. The constitutive model used for the copper simulation was a viscoplastic model developed by Bodner and Partom. For the bentonite simulation, a viscoplastic model for unsaturated soils based on the Desai and Perzyna theory, using an elliptical yield surface corresponding to the modified Cam-Clay model, was used.

Qualification & testing of joining development for DEMO limiter component

A development plan for validation of functional principles is defined to support the challenges of mock-up manufacturing and testing. It is aimed to develop the process and infrastructure for qualifying fusion components for the limiters in the European DEMO. The limiters are components that define the plasma boundary by direct contact during normal and off normal transient events and thus they protect the First Wall of the Breeding Blanket System from extreme heat fluxes during these events. Within this framework, the joints play an important role for making feasible the combination of dissimilar materials required for the plasma facing components (PFCs) by providing a compliant interlayer. The main limiter PFC functionality is to act as thermal barrier, therefore the materials combination shall be able to support the thermal gradient between the high heat flux (HHF) from the plasma and the heat sink. The primary aim of the PFC is to ensure the structural integrity of the heat sink of the PFC (to prevent in-vessel loss of coolant accident), as it is foreseen that during the off-normal transients the PFC surface may melt or evaporate. Minimizing the large deformation and guaranteeing the strength and fatigue behaviour of the joints is required to achieve this.Therefore, a testing programme for joining development and qualification based on brazing technology is performed. It is focused on joint assessment between representative filler metals (OB1025TM, OB950TM, PB950TM, NBLMTM & H-BronzeTM) from the different families in the market and the chemical compatibility, capillarity flow and spreadability on the typical base materials used for PFC (laser powder bed fusion additive manufactured W-6%Ta, W, P91, OFHC Copper, CuCrZr). The main results show good wetting of the gold-copper alloy (OB1025TM) with all the base materials. It allows to progress with the integration of a PFC to create the process and infrastructure for optimizing the design of critical joints. NBLMTM seems to be an interesting filler for materials with high melting temperature as tungsten and P91 and OB950TM presents acceptable wetting condition with the base materials. PB950TM is rejected because the excess of wetting on all the base materials.

Experimental Study on the Use of the Modifying Agent for Expansive Soil Stabilization: Mockup Test on a Case Study

To improve the soft grounds, soil stabilization has been used widely in many tropical countries including Vietnam. This paper presents the experimental study on the use of the modifying agent for expansive soil stabilization. A real-scale one-kilometer rural road was used for the experimental test. It was divided into four parts, and each part was subjected to different stabilization tests. The specimens extracted from every quarter were denominated as Q1 (soil + cement), Q2 (soil + cement + fly ash), Q3 (soil + cement + fly ash + modifying agent) and Q4 (soil + cement + modifying agent). The assessment test showed that specimen Q1 yielded the highest water absorption percentage after 24 hours and 72 hours of soaking. The longer the soaking time, the more water diffusion occurred at specimens Q1 and Q2 rather than at specimens Q3 and Q4. When subjected to the unconfined compressive and indirect tensile tests, specimens Q1 and Q3 yielded the lowest and highest strength, respectively. The use of the modifying agent in the specimens Q3 and Q4 has improved noticeably unconfined compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, and water stability compared to the specimens Q1 and Q2. However, ettringite-based sulfate heaving might be exhibited with the use of fly ash, this may cause damage to the overlying pavement structure in the long term. Therefore, to improve the expansive soil stabilization using the modifying agent, it is recommended to use the constituent materials in specimen Q4 rather than in Q3.

인공신경망을 이용한 태양광열 시스템의 열 및 전기 성능예측 모델 개발

Recently, Zero Energy Building (ZEB) that reduces the energy consumption and energy demand is becoming major issue. To realize ZEB, high energy efficiency renewable energy systems are actively applied in the building. Among the renewable energy systems, the photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems can respond heat and electricity demands of the buildings with one facility. Although, it is necessary to accurately predict the performance of the PVT system, most studies are conducted at the mock-up test level, through energy simulation and laboratory-scale experiment. In this study, the real-scale experiment plant that comprises the PVT module, heat storage tank, and actual building was constructed to collect the database of the PVT system under actual conditions. Moreover, based on the real-scale experimental data, the performance prediction model was constructed using artificial neural network (ANN). To verify the accuracy of the performance prediction model based on ANN, the coefficient of variation root mean square error (Cv(RMSE)) proposed by ASHRAE Guideline 14 was used. The Cv(RMSE) for the predicted result by ANN was calculated as 10% of the thermal efficiency, and 16% of the electrical production. Through the Cv(RMSE) result, it was confirmed that the performance prediction model based on ANN is reliable.

Characteristics of ultrafine particle emission change depending on the placement of ventilation systems in 3D printer working environment

This study evaluated the emission characteristics of ultrafine particles emitted during material extrusion type 3D printer, called Desktop 3D printer, operation in the test bed and mock-up environmental conditions respectively. For the measurement, a condensation particle counter (CPC) and scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) were employed. In the test-bed evaluation, representative materials widely used nowadays such as ABS, PLA, TPU, PC, etc, emitted higher than the UFP criteria (3.5 ×1011) of 2D printer test method RAL-UZ 171. Particle sizes emitted from materials were found to be less than 200 nm. For the mock-up environment, seven different Desktop 3D printers and mechanical ventilation devices are used to compare the reduction rates of UFP according to the kind and placement of ventilation systems. When the ventilation equipment was installed on the ceiling, the reduction efficiency of UFP emission was not confirmed clearly while the reduction rates were significantly reduced when installed on the window.

Personnel Management of Village Officials Through SIMPEG Application in Realizing Village SDGs in Kendal Village, Sekaran District, Lamongan Regency

This study aims to describe and analyze the personnel management of village officials by developing SIMPEG application to realize Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Village in Kendal Village, Sekaran District, Lamongan Regency. The type of research is research dan development (R&D) method by using prototype model that consists of 3 steps, which are: listen to customer, build/revise mock-up, and customer test drives mock-up. The techniques of data collection are literature study, deep interview, observation, and documentation. The results show that the personnel management using SIMPEG application has realized the 17th SDGs of Village (partnership for rural development through management and integration of information and communication technology (ICT). The development of Village SIMPEG application also is one of the efforts to realize the principles of electronic government and orderly personnel administration. However, this application still needs develpment by providing upload button to upload files related to several SIMPEG menu. The upload button can be used as an electronic archive that support information, such as educational history form, training history form, and award history form

Single-sensor pressure-gradient piezoelectric cylindrical tube vector hydrophone

A single-sensor differential pressure vector hydrophone based on a radially polarized piezoelectric circular tube structure is proposed, which can realize the azimuth angle of the incident acoustic wave by using the scalar information of the underwater sound field through a single sensor without any priori conditions. It has the characteristics of simple structure and low cost. The proposed hydrophone is improved based on the piezoelectric circular tube structure. And its piezoelectric ceramics are divided into eight parts. Through the different response voltages of each part, the underwater sound field scalar information received by a single sensor is used, combined with signal processing algorithms, the azimuth angle of the incident sound wave is estimated. The finite element method is used to complete the simulation of the hydrophone, and the simulation results are analyzed and fitted. Through the mockup test, comparing the results, and combining with the fitting formula, it is verified that the hydrophone can estimate the azimuth angle of the incident sound wave without any priori conditions.

Sensitivity analysis of waste resin agitation and extraction in a mock-up test

ABSTRACT In decommissioning of nuclear power plants, the processing of used waste resins with high doses stored in tanks is required. The resins deposited on the tank bottoms are extracted by stirring with water jets. Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy developed a compact extracting system using an ejector and eductors to be applied to tanks of various shapes and confirmed the extraction performance in a mock-up test. To accompany this system development, we have developed an analysis method for the agitation and extraction of the resins on the tank bottoms. A viscosity model of the resin layer, which shows the behavior of the non-Newtonian fluid when a resin of fine particles is mixed with water, was implemented in the CFD code and we conducted sensitivity analysis of the resin viscosity as a parameter to the mock-up test. The time variation of the resin concentration to be extracted and transported was predicted with an error within ±15% by appropriately setting the resin viscosity.

Seismic performance of semi-precast composite columns with bolted end-plate connections to footing

To improve manufacturability in factories, constructability on-site, and structural performance at ultimate states, a new method for semi-precast composite columns was developed using corner steel angles and internal moulds. To verify the proposed method, full-scale mockup testing and quasi-static testing were performed for five column specimens with bolted end-plate connections to the footing. Test parameters included joint details and shear connectors. The test results showed that, although a monolithic column specimen exhibited better performance, overall, the semi-precast composite columns with the connections also showed satisfactory behavior in terms of lateral strength, stiffness, displacement capacity, and energy dissipation. The test results were compared with the predictions by numerical analysis and current design codes assuming a fully rigid joint and full composite action. The numerical analysis results and calculated design strength agreed well with the test results, which implies that current design methods are applicable to the design of the proposed column method.

The preparation of segmenting the TRR reactor vessel internals with higher radiation

Based on the approved Taiwan Research Reactor (TRR) Decommissioning Plan, TRR decommissioning task must be finished before March 2029, and the reactor vessel should be fully dismantled before the end of 2028. However, Taiwan has no experience on dismantling a nuclear reactor vessel and lacks the associated containers and equipments, especially those used for handling the internals with higher radiation. To reach the goal of dismantling TRR reactor vessel in time, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) has made the dismantling strategy and developed the associated containers and equipments. Concerning the personnel safety, these internals with higher radiation will be segmented under the water. This makes the equipments and container used for segmenting these internals and storing the segmented parts are hard to be accessed from the commercial market directly and need to be developed in advance. To cope with these challenges, INER has designed the underwater disc saw and band saw equipments to segment these internals and developed INER-LRW-C2 low level radioactive waste container to store and transport those segmented parts. Currently, these equipments used for segmenting these internals are under mockup tests, and INER-LRW-C2 low level radioactive waste container has been granted the usage permit.The content of this article briefly introduces how INER prepares to face these challenges and what it has done. This includes the TRR reactor vessel dismantling strategy and segmentation plan of these internals with higher radiation, the development of INER-LRW-C2 low level radioactive waste container, and the designs of these major associated segmentation equipments.

Exploration for Spatial Sustainability of Microalgae Façades Based on Mock-Up Cultivation Settings

Microalgae are third-generation biomasses that can be used to extract bio-fuel with various advantages from an ecological perspective. In addition, since it is cultivated in an underwater space, it can be used as a microalgae culture space by using building facades. Architectural applications of microalgae are being carried out from various points of view in other countries such as America, Israel, and Germany. As a result, successful cases (such as Germany’s BIQ House) are emerging. However, research studies related to microalgae facade are mainly conducted in terms of culture environment and efficiency. The degree of inflow concerning external resources for a microalgae facade remains unclear. The question concerning how the environment of an indoor space where microalgae facade is installed could be changed is unclear too. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the impact of the space in which the microalgae facade was installed from the perspective of the lighting environment. This study also examined effects of creating a lighting environment compared to existing windows, applicable space, and supplementary points through mock-up tests on microalgae facade. As a result, it was found that the standard microalgae facade suggested by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) could inflow 22.7–41.3% of illumination compared to general windows. If the analysis result is compared with Korean Standard A 3011 (Normal), the microalgae facade can only be applied to spaces that do not have natural light such as ‘warehouses’ and ‘stairs’. Accordingly, it is concluded that if the microalgae facade is to be used creatively, the thickness should be thinner than the standard of patent to set the standard of comfort and consider the user’s comfort in the design stage.

Statistical analysis of power generation of semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) for diversity in building envelope design: A mock-up test by azimuth and tilt angles

Semi-transparent photovoltaics (STPVs) have received increasing attention as an energy-efficient building envelope that uses renewable energy. It is necessary to find the optimal combination of the azimuth angle and tilt angle to install the STPV and to secure high-power generation. However, various constraints limit the installation of STPVs at optimal angles. In other words, there may be a conflict between the building envelope design and STPV design depending on the circumstances, thereby limiting the design. Therefore, this study presents a statistical analysis of power generation with respect to angle to determine the possibilities in building envelope design. Two identical STPV modules each were installed at five azimuth and tilt angles (i.e., two STPV modules each on 25 sides), and the power generation for one year was measured. Then, 1392 h of data were sampled and a statistical analysis was conducted to compare the power generation. First, the representative values were set after comparing the power generation of the two modules at each angle through the Mann–Whitney test. Then, the power generation of each angle was compared through the Kruskal–Wallis test, and a post hoc analysis was conducted. As a result, power generation for five azimuth angles (e.g., +90° (west), +45° (southwest), 0° (south), −45° (southeast), and −90° (east)) was statistically identical in performance at tilt angles of 3° and 15°. Therefore, it is more desirable to focus designs on securing more area than considering optimal azimuth angle in the generation of maximum power through STPVs, at tilt angles of 3° and 15°. Moreover, STPVs for the tilt angles of 75° and 90° were statistically identical in performance when facing west, southwest, southeast, and east. This suggests that, when an STPV is installed at 75° or 90° of the tilt angle, if it cannot be installed on the south, it will provide statistically identical performance even if it is installed at any other azimuth angle. In light of these findings, this study concludes by providing guidelines for the application of STPVs in early architectural design.

Investigation of the emplacement dry density of granulated bentonite mixtures using dielectric, mass-balance and actively heated fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing methods

Granulated bentonite mixture (GBM) is considered to be one of the key elements of the engineered barrier system in the Swiss concept for disposal of spent fuel/vitrified high-level waste. To demonstrate the full-scale emplacement of GBM using a prototype backfilling machine consisting of five screw feeders, an 8-m-long mock-up tunnel in a warehouse and a 50-m-long tunnel in the Mont Terri rock laboratory were backfilled. To ensure the successful emplacement of the GBM in these tests, attempts were made to quantify the dry density of the GBM using conventional mass-balance averaging as well as tools based on dielectric and heated fiber-optic methods. In the mock-up test, the dry density was measured using a set of dielectric tools installed through the tunnel wall. Heterogeneity over the tunnel cross-section was captured, with a general trend towards higher dry density near the screw feeders and lower values near the tunnel wall and crown areas. The in-situ tunnel backfilling in the Mont Terri rock laboratory was performed in twelve steps and the section-wise average dry densities along the tunnel showed a longitudinal variation. Nonetheless, both mock-up and in-situ backfilling tests showed that the overall average dry density exceeded the target value of 1,450 kg/m3. The fiber-optic method involved actively heating the fiber-optic cable installed near the GBM-shotcrete interface at the crown of the tunnel. The GBM dry density profile along the cable was estimated based on the temperature responses. The estimated dry density near the tunnel crown indicated longitudinal variations and was generally lower, which was consistent with the results of the mock-up test. The three methods provided the GBM dry density at different locations with different spatial resolutions. However, the combined results demonstrated that GBM backfilling met engineering and safety-relevant requirements.