What is the Research What is the Research Question?Question?

Amy GingAmy GingVan Vleck High SchoolVan Vleck High School

Dr. Lin Shao, Assistant ProfessorDr. Lin Shao, Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Nuclear EngineeringDepartment of Nuclear Engineering

Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University

How does radiation affect the components of a nuclear reactor?

Research GroupResearch Group

Dr. Lin Shao – Principal Investigator, Assistant Dr. Lin Shao – Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Materials Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Materials ScienceScience

Mark Hollander – Senior ResearcherMark Hollander – Senior Researcher

Grad Students – Michael Martin, Assel Grad Students – Michael Martin, Assel Aitkaliyeva, Di ChenAitkaliyeva, Di Chen

Undergrads – Drew Mitchell, Josh Willis, Josey Undergrads – Drew Mitchell, Josh Willis, Josey Wallace, Ethan Windsor, McIan Amos, Michael Wallace, Ethan Windsor, McIan Amos, Michael General, Alvaro Aranibar, Danny Galicki General, Alvaro Aranibar, Danny Galicki

BackgroundBackgroundPressurized Water Reactor

Reactor’s pressure vessel typically housed in 8” of steel

What is radiation?What is radiation?Fission

Effects of Radiation on Steel in Effects of Radiation on Steel in the Vesselthe Vessel

Steel under radiation

Irradiation Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking (IASCC) Radiation + Stress + Environment

The mission of the Accelerator The mission of the Accelerator Lab at TAMULab at TAMU

Fundamental understanding of materials Fundamental understanding of materials behavior in nuclear reactorbehavior in nuclear reactor

Simulation of materials performance in Simulation of materials performance in nuclear reactornuclear reactor

Development of new materials with longer Development of new materials with longer life (new reactor designs)life (new reactor designs)

Safer nuclear reactors with longer life-Safer nuclear reactors with longer life-spansspans

Lab I AcceleratorsLab I Accelerators

200 kV Ion Accelerator150 kV Ion Accelerator10 kV Ion Accelerator

•Feed in Helium (He) gas•Strip off electrons, making a plasma•Extract positively charged ions from the plasma•Accelerate ions down the line•Implant ions into the sample

What am I doing here?What am I doing here?

My research will center around “resistivity”My research will center around “resistivity”

Atoms in a metal would like to make a lattice structure. Radiation moves atoms around in the structure and not all of the atoms will find an open lattice position to occupy.

Resistivity is a measure of the defects created by radiation.

How do we measure resistivity?How do we measure resistivity?

Four-Point Probe

First, we find the resistance of the sample using a four-point probe. We find the resistance using the formula

V= IR

After we have found the After we have found the resistance of a sample….resistance of a sample….

We will use this formula to calculate We will use this formula to calculate ResistivityResistivity….….

ρ= Resistivitys=distance between pins on four point probe R=resistancet=thickness of sample

ρ=2πsRt>s

My task….My task….

I will be calculating the Resistivity of I will be calculating the Resistivity of samples of Iron (Fe) and Nickel (Ni)samples of Iron (Fe) and Nickel (Ni)

Samples will be implanted with Helium Samples will be implanted with Helium (He) ions at 140 keV(He) ions at 140 keV

My results will be useful because the My results will be useful because the resistivity will tell me about the defects resistivity will tell me about the defects caused by radiation.caused by radiation.

In my classroom….In my classroom….

We will use a simple four-point probe to We will use a simple four-point probe to find resistivityfind resistivity

My students will calculate both resistance My students will calculate both resistance and resistivityand resistivity

This project will be conducted after we This project will be conducted after we have completed lessons on evaluating have completed lessons on evaluating variables (mid-Fall semester).variables (mid-Fall semester).

Thank you….Thank you….

To everyone who makes it possible for me To everyone who makes it possible for me to be hereto be here My husband and kidsMy husband and kids Van Vleck High School Math DepartmentVan Vleck High School Math Department Van Vleck High School and ISD Van Vleck High School and ISD

AdministrationAdministration

BIGBIG Thanks to… Thanks to…

Dr. Shao and his amazing team, who have Dr. Shao and his amazing team, who have taken me in, made me one of their own, taken me in, made me one of their own, answered my numerous questions and answered my numerous questions and made me feel welcomemade me feel welcome

Also, thanks to….Also, thanks to….

TAMU E3 TeamTAMU E3 Team

National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation

Nuclear Power InstituteNuclear Power Institute

Texas Workforce CommissionTexas Workforce Commission

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