ISSN:
1573-4862
Keywords:
Material defects
;
14 MeV neutrons
;
pulse-shape analyzer system
;
NDE
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology
,
Mathematics
Notes:
Abstract A 14 MeV neutron generator and fast neutron spectrometer consisting of an organic scintillation detector and a pulse-shape analyzer are used for the nondestructive testing of materials. The 14.6 MeV peak (in the 12.7–15.7 MeV region) is observed to change as a function of both the kind of testing material and the defect condition inside the material. The number of neutron counts under the 14.6 MeV peak for lighter testing materials (e.g., plastic, brass, and aluminum) with a defect will increase, as compared to the number of neutron counts under the same peak region of an identical testing material but with no defect. For heavier testing materials (e.g., steel and lead), the inverse is observed. The method is feasible even with defects of size 0.25 cm3 (i.e., a cylindrical cavity 0.4 cm in diameter and 2.0 cm in length), although quantitative evaluation of the size of the defect as a function of the change of the number of neutron counts under the 14.6 MeV peak region is difficult due to instability of the 14 MeV neutron output.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00566312
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