Cobalt-60 simulation of LOCA (loss of coolant accident) radiation effects

Technical Report · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5983896· OSTI ID:5983896

Buckalew, W H

The consequences of simulating nuclear reactor loss of coolant accident (LOCA) radiation effects with Cobalt-60 gamma ray irradiators have been investigated. Based on radiation induced damage in polymer base materials, it was demonstrated that electron/photon induced radiation damage could be related on the basis of average absorbed radiation dose. This result was used to estimate the relative effectiveness of the mixed beta/gamma LOCA and Cobalt-60 radiation environments to damage both bare and jacketed polymer base electrical insulation materials. From the results obtained, it is concluded that present simulation techniques are a conservative method for simulating LOCA radiation effects and that the practices have probably substantially overstressed both bare and jacketed materials during qualification testing. 9 refs., 8 figs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Washington, DC (United States). Div. of Engineering; Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5983896
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-5231; SAND-88-1054; ON: TI89014902
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
POLYMERS
RUBBERS
BETA PARTICLES
COBALT 60
COPPER
DOSIMETRY
ELONGATION
GAMMA RADIATION
IRRADIATION
TENSILE PROPERTIES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHARGED PARTICLES
COBALT ISOTOPES
ELASTOMERS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOT
220200* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories
360605 - Materials- Radiation Effects