Fundamental aspects of creating passivation layers for corrosion resistance in nuclear engineering applications, specifically the ability to form complete layers versus porous ones, are being explored in this study. Utilizing a laser ablation technique, 1,064 nm fire at 10 Hz with 60 pulses per shot and 0.5 mm between impact points, aluminum samples are treated in an attempt to create a fully formed passivation layer that will be tested in a LiCl-KCl eutectic salt. By placing these samples into an electrochemical environment mimicking a pyroprocessing system, corrosion rates, resistances and material characteristics are tested for one week and then compared between treated and untreated samples. In initial testing, linear sweep voltammetry indicates corrosion current density for the untreated sample at −0.038 mA·cm−2 and treated samples at −0.024 mA·cm−2 and −0.016 mA·cm−2, respectively. This correlates to a control sample corrosion rate of −0.205 mm·yr−1 and treated rates of −0.130 mm·yr−1 and −0.086 mm·yr−1 for samples 1 and 2. In addition, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy circuits show application of a longer-lasting porous passivation layer on the treated metal, compared to the naturally forming layer. However, the current technique fails to create a uniform protection layer across the sample.

The emergence of ferrous-medium entropy alloys (FeMEAs) with excellent tensile properties represents a potential direction for designing alloys based on metastable engineering. In this study, an FeMEA is successfully fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), a metal additive manufacturing technology. Tensile tests are conducted on the LPBF-processed FeMEA at room temperature and cryogenic temperatures (77 K). At 77 K, the LPBF-processed FeMEA exhibits high yield strength and excellent ultimate tensile strength through active deformation-induced martensitic transformation. Furthermore, due to the low stability of the face-centered cubic (FCC) phase of the LPBFprocessed FeMEA based on nano-scale solute heterogeneity, stress-induced martensitic transformation occurs, accompanied by the appearance of a yield point phenomenon during cryogenic tensile deformation. This study elucidates the origin of the yield point phenomenon and deformation behavior of the FeMEA at 77 K.

This study explores the profound impact of varying oxygen content on microstructural and mechanical properties in specimens HO and LO. The higher oxygen concentration in specimen HO is found to significantly influence alpha lath sizes, resulting in a size of 0.5-1 μm, contrasting with the 1-1.5 μm size observed in specimen LO. Pore fraction, governed by oxygen concentration, is high in specimen HO, registering a value of 0.11%, whereas specimen LO exhibits a lower pore fraction (0.02%). Varied pore types in each specimen further underscore the role of oxygen concentration in shaping microstructural morphology. Despite these microstructural variations, the average hardness remains consistent at ~370 HV. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of oxygen content in influencing microstructural features, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between elemental composition and material properties.

Nasopharyngeal stenosis is defined as a morphological transition of narrowing at the nasopharyngeal region. A 2-yearold, castrated male, Korean short hair cat was referred to the animal medical center, Gyeongsang National University. According to clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, and physical examination, nasopharyngeal stenosis was diagnosed. The staphylectomy was performed using a CO2 laser, and there were not any post-operative complications. The patient was discharged in two days. This report describes the case of nasopharyngeal stenosis in cat and represents that laser ablation could be a good option for surgical management of the nasopharyngeal region with a low complication rate.

Titanium constitutes approximately 60% of the weight of steel and exhibits strength comparable to steel's but with a higher strength-to-weight ratio. Titanium alloys possess excellent corrosion resistance due to a thin oxide layer at room temperature; however, their reactivity increases above 600°C, leading to oxidation and nitridation. Welding titanium alloys presents challenges such as porosity issues. Laser welding minimizes the heat-affected zone (HAZ) by emitting high output in a localized area for a short duration. This process forms a narrow and deep HAZ, reducing the deterioration of mechanical properties and decreasing the contact area with oxygen. In this study, fiber laser welding was conducted on 8.0mm thick Ti-6Al-4V alloy using the Bead On Plate (BOP) technique. A total of 25 welding conditions were experimented with to observe bead shapes. The results demonstrated successful penetration within the 0.792mm to 8.000mm range. It was concluded that this experimental approach can predict diverse welding conditions for Ti-6Al-4V alloys of various thicknesses.

Liquified hydrogen is considered a new energy resource to replace conventional fossil fuels due to environmental regulations by the IMO. When building tank for the storage and transportation of liquified hydrogen, materials need to withstand temperatures of -253°C, which is even lower than that of LNG (-163°C). Austenitic stainless steel mainly used to build liquified hydrogen tank. When building the tanks, both the base material and welding zone need to have excellent strength in cryogenic condition, however, manual arc welding has several issues due to prolonged exposure of the base material to high temperatures. Laser welding, which has some benefits like short period of exposure time and decrease of thermal affected zone, is used many industries. In this study, laser bead on plate welding was conducted to determine the laser butt welding conditions for STS 304 and STS 316L steels. After the BOP test, cross-section observations were conducted to measure and compare four bead parameters. These tendency result of laser BOP test can be used as conditions laser butt welding of STS 304 and STS 316L steel.

Research into lightweighting to improve vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust emissions continues as environmental regulations become increasingly stringent. Magnesium alloys, chosen for their lightweight properties, are more than 35% lighter than aluminum alloys and also exhibit excellent mechanical characteristics. While magnesium alloys are commonly utilized in arc welding processes like GTAW and GMAW, they pose challenges such as high residual stresses and welding defects. Laser welding, on the other hand, offers the advantage of precise heat input, enabling deep and high-quality welds while minimizing welding distortion. In this study, fiber laser welding was employed to weld a 4.0mm thick AZ31B-H24 using the Bead on Plate technique. A total of 10 different welding conditions were tested with fiber laser welding, and the cross-sections of the weld beads were examined. Weld bead shapes were measured based on five parameters. The results allowed for an evaluation of the weldability of AZ31B-H24 using fiber laser welding.

항만 내 선박과 부두의 사고를 예방하기 위하여 통항 및 접안 안전성 평가를 통하여 안전한 부두가 건설되어 관리하고 있으나, 선 박의 접안 및 계류 과정에서 선박이 부두에 충돌하거나 로프로 인한 인명사고의 발생 등 예측할 수 없는 사고들이 종종 발생한다. 자동계류장 치는 선박의 신속하고 안전한 계류를 위한 자동화된 시스템으로 로봇 매니퓰레이터와 흡착 패드로 구성된 탈/부착 메커니즘을 가지고 있다. 본 논문은 자동계류장치의 흡착 패드의 위치 및 속도제어에 필요한 선체와의 변위 및 속도 측정 시스템을 다룬다. 자동계류장치에 적합한 측 정 시스템을 설계하기 위하여, 본 논문은 우선 센서의 성능 및 실외 환경적 특성 분석을 수행한다. 다음으로 이러한 분석 결과를 토대로 실외 부두환경에서 설치되는 자동계류장치에 적합한 변위 및 속도 측정시스템의 구성 및 설계 방법에 대해 기술한다. 또한 센서의 측정상태 감지 및 속도 추정을 위한 알고리즘을 제시한다. 제안된 방법은 다양한 속도 구간에서의 변위 및 속도 측정 실험을 통해 그 유용성을 검증한다.

As nuclear decommissioning ventures become increasingly complex, the role of digitalization in facilitating and enhancing these operations is becoming indispensable. This transition to a more digitized approach presents a myriad of advantages, including: augmented avenues for data acquisition, analysis, and visualization to bolster dismantling strategies; simulations in virtual environments for operator training; precise forecasting of future waste emergence, culminating in refined cost estimations; and more immersive decommissioning visualizations for both operators and external stakeholders. Salient benefits conferred by the integration of digital technologies in decommissioning encompass improved collaboration, enriched knowledge transfer, clarity regarding present technological constraints, insights into key influencing factors, clearer criteria for technology selection, and a profound understanding of the potential challenges and merits of a broader incorporation of digital tools in decommissioning endeavors. Of paramount importance is the opportunity presented for superior workforce training and safety measures, exemplified by ALARAbased planning. Amidst the myriad facets of digital adoption, 3D modeling of nuclear facilities derived from laser-scanned point clouds stands out as a pivotal domain in the digitalization. The transformation of intricate point cloud data into a comprehensible 3D mesh remains the crux of this paper. The process of mesh generation, despite being simpler than its counterpart of converting to a 3D solid model, is crucial for multiple reasons. The resultant 3D mesh offers an enhanced visual representation compared to a sparse point cloud, paving the way for improved spatial perception. Furthermore, it serves as a rudimentary tool for approximating component volumes and the ensuing waste, thereby playing an instrumental role in waste manipulation strategies, notably in collision detection. This paper delves deep into the nuances of mesh generation, conducting an parametric study of mesh conversion algorithms, including down-sampling rates. Through this rigorous examination, we endeavor to shed light on optimal methodologies, hoping to catalyze advancements in the digitalization of nuclear decommissioning processes.

Thermal cutting processes that can be applied to dismantling nuclear power plants include oxygen cutting, plasma cutting, and laser cutting. According to the global trend, research projects are being carried out in various countries to upgrade laser cutting, and many studies are also being conducted in Korea with plans to apply laser cutting processes when dismantling nuclear power plants. However, with the current technology level of the laser cutting process, the maximum thickness that can be cut is limited to 250 mm. Therefore, in this study, a laser-oxygen hybrid cutting process was implemented by adding a laser heat source to the oxygen cutting process that can cut carbon steel with a thickness of 250 mm or more (RV, beam, column, beam, etc.) when dismantling the nuclear power plant. This has the advantage of improving the cutting speed and reducing the cutting width Kerf compared to conventional oxygen cutting. In this research, the laser-oxygen hybrid cutting process consisted of laser cutting to which Raycus’ 8 kW Fiber Laser power source was applied and oxygen cutting to which hydrogen was applied with Fuel Gas. The oxygen torch was placed perpendicular to the test piece, and the laser head was irradiated by tilting 35° to 70°. The effects of cutting directions on quality and performance were studied, and cutting paths were selected by comparing cutting results. Thereafter, it was confirmed that there is an optimal laser output power according to the cutting thickness by studying the effect on the cutting surface quality by changing only the laser output power under the same cutting conditions. The results of this study are expected to be helpful in the remote cutting process using laser-oxygen hybrid cutting when dismantling domestic nuclear power plants in the future.

Graphene is a suitable transducer for wearable sensors because of its high conductivity, large specific surface area, flexibility, and other unique considerable features. Using a simple, fast galvanic pulse electrodeposition approach, a unique nonenzymatic glucose amperometric electrode was successfully developed based on well-distributed fine Cu nanoparticles anchored on the surface of 3D structure laser-induced graphene. The fabricated electrode allows glucose detection with a sensitivity of 2665 μA/mM/cm2, a response time of less than 5 s, a linear range of 0.03–4.5 mM, and a LOD of 0.023 μM. It also detects glucose selectively in the presence of interfering species such as ascorbic acid and urea. These provide the designed electrode the advantages for glucose sensing in saliva with 97% accuracy and present it among the best saliva-range non-enzymatic glucose sensors reported to date for real-life diagnostic applications.

An irradiation hardening of Inconel 718 produced by selective laser melting (SLM) was studied based on the microstructural observation and mechanical behavior. Ion irradiation for emulating neutron irradiation has been proposed owing to advantages such as low radiation emission and short experimental periods. To prevent softening caused by the dissolution of ' and '' precipitates due to irradiation, only solution annealing (SA) was performed. SLM SA Inconel 718 specimen was ion irradiated to demonstrate the difference in microstructure and mechanical properties between the irradiated and non-irradiated specimens. After exposing specimens to Fe3+ ions irradiation up to 100 dpa (displacement per atom) at an ambient temperature, the hardness of irradiated specimens was measured by nanoindentation as a function of depth. The depth distribution profile of Fe3+ and dpa were calculated by the Monte Carlo SRIM (Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter)-2013 code under the assumption of the displacement threshold energy of 40 eV. A transmission electron microscope was utilized to observe the formation of irradiation defects such as dislocation loops. This study reveals that the Frank partial dislocation loops induce irradiation hardening of SLM SA Inconel 718 specimens.

This research introduced a command-filtered backstepping control of mirror system to maintain laser communication between satellite and ground station. This requires a 2 degree of freedom gimbal mirror system using DC motors for target acquisition, pointing, and tracking (APT) system. This APT system is used for laser communication between satellite and ground stations. To track these desired angles, we have to control DC motors using introduced command-filtered backstepping controller (CFBSC) with disturbance. Command filtered backstepping controller has second order filter instead differentiation for simple and fast calculation. Introduced command-filtered backstepping control gives a smooth control signal for intermediate states. Simulation results verify that CFBSC outperforms SMC in terms of tracking error and disturbance rejection.

In this study, machine learning models are proposed to predict the Vickers hardness of AlSi10Mg alloys fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). A total of 113 utilizable datasets were collected from the literature. The hyperparameters of the machine-learning models were adjusted to select an accurate predictive model. The random forest regression (RFR) model showed the best performance compared to support vector regression, artificial neural networks, and k-nearest neighbors. The variable importance and prediction mechanisms of the RFR were discussed by Shapley additive explanation (SHAP). Aging time had the greatest influence on the Vickers hardness, followed by solution time, solution temperature, layer thickness, scan speed, power, aging temperature, average particle size, and hatching distance. Detailed prediction mechanisms for RFR are analyzed using SHAP dependence plots.

Radioactive Oxide is formed on the surface of the coolant pipe of the nuclear power plant. In order to remove the oxide film that is formed on the surfaces of the coolant pipe, chemical and physical decontamination technologies are used. The disadvantage of traditional technologies is that they produce secondary radioactive wastes. Therefore, in this study, the short-pulsed laser eco-friendly technology was used in order to reduce the production of secondary radioactive wastes. It was also used to minimize the damage that was caused to the base material and to remove the contaminated oxide film. The study was carried out using a Stainless steel 304 specimen that was coated with nickel-ferrite particles. Additionally, a transport robot was 3D modeled and manufactured in order to efficiently remove the oxide film from the coolant pipe of the nuclear power plant. The transport robot has a fixed laser head to move inside the horizontal and vertical pipes. The rotating laser head removes the contaminated oxide film on the inner surface of the coolant pipe. In the future, as a condition of the 1064nm short-pulsed laser ablation technique determined by basic analysis, we plan to analyze whether the transport robot is applicable to the radiation contamination site of the nuclear power plant.

Concrete decontamination tools capable of removing the nuclear contaminated surface are necessary to minimize the amount of concrete waste generated in the process of decontamination and dismantling of nuclear power plants. Laser scabbling is a decontamination technique that removes the contaminated surface layers concrete surface by inducing internal explosion. The application principle of laser scabbling technology uses the porous nature of concrete including moisture. When high thermal energy is applied to the concrete surface, an explosion at pores is induced along with an increase in water vapor pressure. High-powered laser beam can be an effective induction source of local explosive spalling on concrete surface. In this study, the scabbling test using a 5 kW highpowered fiber laser was conducted on the concrete blocks to establish the optimal conditions for surface decontamination. It was also measured the volume peeled off the concrete surface under the conditions of two different laser head speeds. Furthermore, we tested the removal efficiency of radioactive concrete particles generated during high-power fiber laser scabbling process. A 5 kW laser beam was applied to the concrete surface at two different laser head speeds - 120 mm/min and 600 mm/min. The laser beam repeatedly moved 200 mm horizontally and 40 mm vertically within the concrete block. The amount of surface concrete removed from concrete block was calculated from the measurement of the volume and mean depth using a 3D scanner device (laser-probed Global Advantage 9.12.8(HEXAGON)) for the two different the laser head speeds. By increasing the laser head speed, less explosive spalling occurred due to shorter contact time of the laser beam with the concrete. The laser head speed of 600 mm/min reduced about 89% of the waste generated by shallow depth of scabbling as compared to the waste generated at the laser head speed of 120 mm/min. The fiber laser scabbling system was developed for surface decontamination of radioactive concrete in nuclear power plants. Tests were performed to find the optimum parameters to reduce the generation of particulate waste from the contaminated concrete surface by controlling the laser head speeds. It was confirmed that the wastes from surface decontamination was reduced up to 89% by increasing laser head speed from 120 mm/min to 600 mm/min. It was also observed that the cylindrical tube effectively vacuumed the debris generated by the explosive spalling into the collector. Removal efficiencies of concrete particles were measured greater than 99.9% with ring blower power of 650 air watt of the filter system.

Laser scabbling has the potential to be a valuable technique capable of effectively decontaminating highly radioactive concrete surface at nuclear decommissioning sites. Laser scabbling tool using an optical fiber has a merits of remote operation at a long range, which provides further safety for workers at nuclear decommissioning sites. Furthermore, there is no reaction force and low secondary waste generation, which reduces waste disposal costs. In this study, an integrated decontamination system with laser scabbling tool was employed to test the removal performance of the concrete surface. The integrated decontamination system consisted of a fiber laser, remote controllable mobile cart, and a debris collector device. The mobile cart controlled the translation speed and position of the optical head coupled with 20 m long process fiber. A 5 kW high-powered laser beam emitted from the optical head impacted the concrete block with dimensions of 300 mm × 300 mm × 80 mm to induce explosive spalling on its surface. The concrete debris generated from the spalling process were collected along the flexible tube connected with collector device. We used a three-dimensional scanner device to measure the removed volume and depth profile.

Laser cutting has been recognized as one of key techniques in dismantling nuclear power plants as it has several advantages such as a remote operation and a reduced secondary waste. However, it generates a significant amount of aerosols that can pose a health risk to workers and further induce environmental pollution during the cutting operation. Thus, understanding the aerosol characteristics generated by the laser cutting is crucial for implementing an effective cutting operation and reducing the exposure to these hazardous particles. In this work, we established a methodology to collect the aerosols and investigate their properties in the laser cutting operation. We built an integrated laser cutting system for aerosol analyses, consisting of a high-power laser cutting module, a metal sample holder, an aerosol collector, and a closed chamber. We expect that this system will offer an opportunity for in-depth understanding of the aerosol properties, by connecting it with desired type of aerosol analysis platforms, and further safe dismantling operation of the nuclear power plants.

Laser cutting has many advantages, including high-speed cutting potential, no reaction forces, narrow kerf widths, ease of remote control, and more. This makes it the next generation cutting technology for nuclear decommissioning. For this reason, various groups in countries with nuclear power plants have been working on applying laser cutting to nuclear decommissioning. Our group has also been developing in-air and underwater laser cutting technologies. Previous research has focused on efficiently cutting thicker steels. To accomplish this, a cutting head with a long focusing element with a focal length of 600 mm was utilized. A long focusing head is advantageous for cutting thick objects at high speeds because it can maintain a high power density over a long distance. However, with such a long focused beam, the residual laser power that remains after passing through the target object can cut or damage other unwanted objects located behind the target. Utilizing a short focused element can solve this problem, but if the focal length is too short, the cutting capability will be reduced. In this work, we developed and applied a cutting head that utilizes a focused element with a short focal length of 300 mm. Cutting tests with this head allowed us to cut 10-60 mm thick stainless steel plates at a laser power of 6 kW. We also obtained the maximum cutting speed and kerf width for each thickness while increasing the laser power by 1 kW from 1 to 6 kW. The results obtained in this work are expected to be utilized for safe cutting in future nuclear decommissioning applications.

Laser cutting technology capable of remote cutting is being developed to reduce radiation exposure to workers and minimize secondary waste generation when dismantling highly polluted nuclear power plant facilities (reactors, pressurizers, steam generators, coolant pumps, etc.). Laser cutting proceeds in air or water, and at this time, secondary products containing radioactive materials are inevitably generated. In air cutting, dust and aerosol are generated, and in underwater cutting, aerosol, water vapor, dispersed particles (colloid, suspension), sediment (dross, sediment), and radioactive waste liquid are generated. Dispersed particles float in the form of fine particles in water, increasing the turbidity of water as cutting progresses, hindering work, and aerosols contain micrometer-sized particles together with water vapor, which can threaten the safety of workers. Particles dispersed in water and aerosol are within 10% of the mass ratio among secondary products, but the volume they occupy is very large, which can have a significant impact on the environment as well as a burden on treatment capacity. Various characterization methods are being developed to diagnose the generation mechanism and physical and chemical properties of laser cutting secondary products in real time and to secure technologies for collecting and removing dispersed particles and aerosols in water. This study introduces a real-time laser cutting secondary product characteristic evaluation method that can identify the key mechanisms of secondary product generation by analyzing the plasma formation process on laser cutting surface and behavior of aerosol, underwater dispersed particles produced by secondary products, as well as physical and chemical properties in real time with various measurement technologies such as Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES), Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (ICP-TOF-MS).