Numerical simulation study on penetration performance of depleted Uranium(DU)alloy fragments

Due to its high strength,high density,high hardness and good penetration capabilities,Depleted uranium alloys have already shined in armor-piercing projectiles.There should also be a lot of room for improvement in the application of fragment killing elements.Therefore,regarding the performance of the depleted uranium alloy to penetrate the target plate,further investigation is needed to analyze its advantages and disadvantages compared to tungsten alloy.To study the difference in penetration performance between depleted uranium alloy and tungsten alloy fragments,firstly,a theoretical analysis of the adiabatic shear sensitivity of DU and tungsten alloys was given from the perspective of material constitutive model.Then,taking the cylindrical fragment penetration target as the research object,the penetration process and velocity characteristics of the steel target plates penetrated by DU alloy fragment and tungsten alloy fragment were compared and analyzed,by using finite element software ANSYS/LS-DYNA and Lagrange algorithm.Lastly,the influence of different postures when impacting target and different fragment shapes on the penetration results is carried out in the research.The results show that in the penetration process of the DU and tungsten alloy fragments,the self-sharpening properties of the DU alloy can make the fragment head sharper and the penetrating ability enhance.Under the same conditions,the penetration capability of cylindrical fragment impacting target in vertical posture is better than that in horizontal posture,and the penetration capability of the spherical fragment is slightly better than that of cylindrical fragment.

Microstructure evolution of depleted uranium impacted by steel projectile at velocity of 50m/s

The deformed microstructure evolution of depleted uranium impacted by steel projectile at a velocity of50m/s was investigated by means of confocal laser scanning microscope,electron backscatter diffraction,transmission electron microscope and indenter technique.The experimental results showed that the spherical cap crater was formed in depleted uranium target impacted by steel projectile,and the diameter and depth of the impacted crater were5.45and1.01mm,respectively.From crater rim to deep matrix,four deformed zones were classified,including twin fragmentation zone,high density deformation twin zone,low density deformation twin zone and matrix zone.Twinning was considered as the dominant plastic deformation mechanism of depleted uranium subjected to impact loadings.Besides twinning,the dislocation slipping also played an important role to accommodate the plastic deformation.Finally,the deformed microstructure evolution of depleted uranium under high velocity impact was proposed.

Depleted uranium oxide supported nickel catalyst for autothermal CO_(2)methanation in non-adiabatic reactor under induction heating

Undoped nickel-based catalysts supported on depleted uranium oxide allow one to carry out CO_(2)methanation process under extremely low reaction temperature under atmospheric pressure and powered by a contactless induction heating.By adjusting the reaction conditions,the catalyst is able to perform CO_(2)methanation reaction under autothermal process operated inside a non-adiabatic reactor,without any external energy supply.Such autothermal process is possible thanks to the high apparent density of the UO_x which allows one to confine the reaction heat in a small catalyst volume in order to confine the exothermicity of the reaction inside the catalyst and to operate the reaction at equilibrium heat in-heat out.Such autothermal operation mode allows one to significantly reduce the complexity of the process compared to that operated using adiabatic reactor,where complete insulation is required to prevent heat disequilibrium,in order to reduce as much as possible,the heat exchange with the external medium.The catalyst displays an extremely high stability as a function of time on stream as no apparent deactivation.It is expected that such new catalyst with unprecedented catalytic performance could open new era in the field of heterogeneous catalysis where traditional supports show their limitations to operate catalytic processes under severe reaction conditions.

Method for measuring promptγ-rays generated by D-T neutrons bombarding a depleted uranium spherical shell

The prompt T-ray spectrum from depleted uranium （DU） spherical shells induced by 14 MeV D-T neutrons is measured. Monte Carlo （MC） simulation gives the largest prompt 2/ flux with the optimal thickness of the DU spherical shells 3-5 cm and the optimal frequency of neutron pulse 1 MHz. The method of time of flight and pulse shape coincidence with energy （DC-TOF） is proposed, and the subtraction of the background y-rays discussed in detail. The electron recoil spectrum and time spectrum of the prompt γ-rays are obtained based on a 2＇＇ × 2＇＇ BC501A liquid scintillator detector. The energy spectrum and time spectrum of prompt γ-rays are obtained based on an iterative unfolding method that can remove the influence of γ-rays response matrix and pulsed neutron shape. The measured time spectrum and the calculated results are roughly consistent with each other. Experimental prompt γ-ray spectrum in the 0.4-3 MeV energy region agrees well with MC simulation based on the ENDF/BVI.5 library, and the discrepancies for the integral quantities ofγ-rays of energy 0.4-1 MeV and 1 3 MeV are 9.2% and 1.1%, respectively.

Monte Carlo simulation of prompt γ-ray spectra from depleted uranium under D-T neutron irradiation and electron recoil spectra in a liquid scintillator detector

To overcome the problem of inefficient computing time and unreliable results in MCNP5 calculation, a two-step method is adopted to calculate the energy deposition of prompt γ-rays in detectors for depleted uranium spherical shells under D-T neutron irradiation. In the first step, the γ-ray spectrum for energy below 7 MeV is calculated by MCNP5 code; secondly, the electron recoil spectrum in a BC501 A liquid scintillator detector is simulated based on EGSnrc Monte Carlo Code with the γ-ray spectrum from the first step as input. The comparison of calculated results with experimental ones shows that the simulations agree well with experiment in the energy region 0.4–3 MeV for the prompt γ-ray spectrum and below 4 MeVee for the electron recoil spectrum. The reliability of the two-step method in this work is validated.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of fine grained uranium prepared by ECAP and subsequent intermediate heat treatment

The microstructure and mechanical properties of fine grained uranium prepared by equal channel angular pressing(ECAP)and subsequent intermediate heat treatment were investigated systematically by the confocal laser scanning microscope(CLSM),electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)and split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB).The results show that the initial coarse grained uranium was refined from about 1000 to 6.5μm prepared by ECAP at 3 passes and subsequent heat treatment,and the corresponding dynamic yield strength increased from 135 to 390 MPa.For the ECAPed uranium samples,the relationship between grain size and yield strength could be described by classical Hall−Petch relationship,and the fitting Hall−Petch relationship for the fine grained uranium samples prepared by ECAP was drawn.

A Methodology for Producing Uniform Distribution of UO2 in a Tungsten Matrix

We report a method to produce a uniform mixture of uranium dioxide spherical particles in a tungsten matrix. This method involves mixing 0.5 weight percent of high density polyethylene binder with 60 volume percent uranium dioxide spheres and 40 volume percent tungsten powders. Initially, hafnium oxide spheres were used as a surrogate for uranium dioxide spheres. The HfO2/W/PE powders were thoroughly mixed in a Turbula, then mixed on a hot plate above the drop point of the binder. These powders were then densified using spark plasma sintering. Microstructure was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, density was measured and hardness measurements were made. Initial carbon content of the powders were measured and carbon content of the sintered materials was measured. Subsequently, W/UO2/Binder powders were mixed using the same methodology to ensure the process could be used for this system. These powders were sintered using hot isostatic pressing and microstructures evaluated. The resultant microstructures contained uniform distribution of HfO2 and UO2 particles in the tungsten matrix with very low carbon content.

Nuclear Power and Radioactive Contamination

Nuclear power was designed to produce electric power. Each part of the chain from uranium mining to handling of the waste is linked to serious contamination risks, however. Uranium mining is generally linked to local to regional contamination. The fuel production also produces depleted uranium at a ratio of 1:7. The reactors are operating under danger of accidents. Numerous minor accidents and endless temporary shut-downs are occasionally mixed with disastrous accidents. The Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) accidents are notorious. The radioactive contamination from those accidents is still incomprehensible and will keep serious destructions of the environment for centuries to come. The handling of the high-level nuclear waste remains unsolved. Methods proposed in Sweden, Finland and France seem likely to lead to disastrous radioactive contaminations in the future. The only way out of this dilemma seems to be a disposal where the waste, though effectively sealed-off in the bedrock, remains accessible and controllable. At present, the “cost & benefit” balance seems strongly tilted over to the “far too costly side”, however.

Suggested landfill sites for hazardous waste in Iraq

Iraq experienced two devastating wars in 1991 and 2003, during which massive amounts of new weapons and sophisticated manufactured nuclear weapons were used called Depleted Uranium (DU). As a consequence of the radioactive contamination;the humans are suffering from various disease like cancer and the environment is polluted. In practice, there is no strategy and/ or national program, not even well thought out plans and scientific personnel and technical equipment required to clean Iraq of these wastes. Reviewing the geological, topographical and hydrological data, it had been noticed that Umm Chaimin depression is a good candidate site to dump all contaminated radioactive scrap and soil. The suggested design of the landfill will ensure safe containment of the waste for hundreds of thousands of years even if significant climatic changes will take place.

Measurement and analysis of f ission rates in a spherical mockup of uranium and polyethylene

Measurements of the reaction rate distribution were carried out using two kinds of Plate Micro Fission Chamber （PMFC）. The first is a depleted uranium chamber and the second an enriched uranium chamber. The material in the depleted uranium chamber is strictly the same as the material in the uranium assembly. With the equation solution to conduct the isotope contribution correction, the fission rate of 238U and 235U were obtained from the fission rate of depleted uranium and enriched uranium. Then, the fission count of 238U and 235U in an individual uranium shell was obtained. In this work, MCNP5 and continuous energy cross sections ENDF/BV.0 were used for the analysis of fission rate distribution and fission count. The calculated results were compared with the experimental ones. The calculation of fission rate of DU and EU were found to agree with the measured ones within 10% except at the positions in polyethylene region and the two positions near the outer surface. Because the fission chamber was not considered in the calculation of the fission counts of 238U and 235U, the calculated results did not agree well with the experimental ones.