Neutron moisture meters: the effects of various soil parameters

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5675743

Wilson, D J

Multigroup nuclear reactor codes were used to determine the effect of soil parameters on the thermal neutron flux at the detector of a neutron moisture meter. The parameters studied were the matrix density, neutron absorption and scattering cross sections, and the moisture content. The source-detector separation was also considered. Polynomial expressions, which were fitted to the variations in the neutron flux resulting from parameter changes, can be incorporated into a simple computer code and used to calculate the moisture content from an input of soil parameters and the detector count rate. This allows the rapid analysis of moisture meter data acquired in such highly variable soil systems as mine overburden heaps. Comparisons of the calculated and measured moisture contents of two different Australian soils are given.

• Research Organization: Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment, Lucas Heights Research Laboratories, Private Mail Bag, Sutherland, NSW 2232
• OSTI ID: 5675743
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 60:1; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ABSORPTION
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
DENSITY
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MOISTURE GAGES
NEUTRON FLUX
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATION FLUX
SCATTERING
SOILS