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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Chlng-Kong Chao, Che-Chung Tseng
Nuclear Technology | Volume 101 | Number 2 | February 1993 | Pages 202-211
Technical Paper | Nuclear Fuel Cycle | doi.org/10.13182/NT93-A34781
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A loading-rate-dependent model has been developed for the analysis of pellet/cladding mechanical interaction that takes the power ramp rate into account. Based on knowledge of the local strain rate behavior, the effect of ramp rate on fuel rod performance is well described by using the strain energy density criterion. The threshold value of the strain energy density for fuel cladding is determined from the Studsvik Inter-Ramp Project experimental data in conjunction with stress analysis. The critical strain energy density for recrystallized Zircaloy-2 is found to be 0.32 MPa. With this value, the damage zone of cladding for a specific fuel rod design under various burnups, ramp rates, and ramped terminal linear heat generation rates can be established, and the ramp rate effect is well identified.
