Fundamental research to understand changes in piezoelectric properties under irradiation are required if ultrasonic sensors are to be designed and deployed for nuclear reactor in-core measurements. Previous research has examined the survivability of bismuth titanate (BiT)-based ultrasonic sensors to a total dose of up to ~1021 neutrons/cm2. This paper describes efforts to quantify the changes in piezoelectric properties in these materials using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). PFM measurements from non-irradiated and irradiated specimens indicated a decrease in d33 from irradiation, consistent with the observed decrease in the response of a BiT transducer over the course of the irradiation test.
Ultrasonic sensors have been proposed for monitoring nuclear fuel performance during transient irradiation tests. A specific need is to monitor strain or deformation of the fuel rods during irradiation. However, challenges associated with designing sensors that can operate under typical in-core conditions while providing the necessary sensitivity have limited their application. This paper describes ultrasonic sensor concepts for measurements during transient irradiation tests and results of laboratory tests to quantify their performance. Challenges associated with designing sensors for in-core deployment and potential solutions are also discussed.
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