Methods and techniques of NDA (nondestructive assay)
Nondestructive assay (NDA) refers to techniques and instruments developed to measure nuclear materials in the many forms in which they occur throughout the fuel cycle. These techniques were first developed to support nuclear safeguards inspections and nuclear material accountability; they are also used extensively for process and quality control. Most accountability measurements are based on analytical chemistry and require that a sample be drawn and analyzed destructively. Destructive analysis can not be applied to many of the product materials found in the fuel cycle, such as fuel rods and assemblies, because of their high monetary value. Also, many waste and scrap materials can not be adequately sampled for destructive analysis because of their heterogenous nature. This situation led to the development of nondestructive analysis techniques. This paper presents an overview of the major NDA techniques and instrumentation in use today. The instrumentation described below is now used frequently by safeguards inspectors and facility operators alike. 19 refs., 18 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5048886
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-88-1077; CONF-8804109-1; ON: DE88009145
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Regional training course on state systems of accounting for and control of nuclear materials, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11 Apr 1988
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
PLUTONIUM
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
URANIUM
CALORIMETRY
DENSITOMETERS
EQUATIONS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
GAMMA RADIATION
MEASURING METHODS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR FUELS
REVIEWS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS
ACTINIDES
BARYONS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FERMIONS
FUELS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
NUCLEONS
PHOTOMETERS
RADIATIONS
REACTOR MATERIALS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
055001* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability- Technical Aspects
050700 - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties