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Bragg Institute

Kowari

Kowari (strain scanner)

Kowari's first "experiment" was carried out shortly after OPAL went back to full power. Following radiation surveys a weld was scanned along the transverse direction of the weld. The next steps are optimisation of the instrument and submitting an ANSTO internal licence application followed by submitting our application to ARPANSA for our operating licence.

Kowari_first_weld.gif

First weld scanned on Kowari, June 2008: the scan was done along the transverse direction (perpendicular to the weld) at the centreline indicated on the plate.

Kowari_sample_600.gif

Neutron intensity versus position across the weld: from the shape a width of the plate of 104.7 mm can be reconstructed. The position of weld corresponds to the dip in intensity.

After a factory acceptance test in England (see last Bragg Peaks) in early April the load frame arrived at the Bragg Institute in early May. By the end of the month the load frame had past all required tests and user training had been conducted for 5 ANSTO scientists. The load frame is ready for use ex-situ for any required tension, compression or fatigue testing; it is anticipated that it will be available for use on Kowari in about 2 months' time.