Title: Use of non-linear microstructure evolution to minimise radiation-induced damage

Authors: Pavlo Selyshchev

Addresses: Department of Physics, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa

Abstract: It is considered evolution of voids in materials under irradiation as example of an open, non-linear system that is far away from thermal equilibrium. The exhaustive research of the dynamics of this system is carried out via the Poincare formalism. Due to non-linear feedback loops, there are three qualitatively different ways of evolution of voids in framework of the present model. Values of the void radius and defect density can monotonously or not monotonously decrease, tend to a stationary value and perform self-oscillation depending on the parameters of the model and the initial states. Obtained results can be used to restrict the void growth in the irradiated materials by means of creation necessary initial state, for instance by means of preliminary irradiation or cooling, proceeding from irradiation conditions. The measurement of the self-oscillations frequency gives the precision method for a control of the material properties under irradiation to avoid accidents in nuclear power.

Keywords: metals; materials irradiation; point defects; voids; nonlinear feedback; microstructure evolution; radiation induced damage; void growth; nuclear accidents; nuclear power; nuclear energy; nuclear safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSCC.2013.058178

International Journal of Systems, Control and Communications, 2013 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.246 - 254

Published online: 12 Jul 2014 *

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