Institute for Nuclear Research Pitesti

Sustainable manufacturing performance is increasingly influenced by the quality of decisions embedded in Quality Management System (QMS) activities, particularly those related to problem analysis and preventive action. In industrial environments such as welded bus chassis production, recurring quality defects—although involving small components—can generate sustainability impacts through rework, inspection effort, and energy consumption. Although artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly adopted to support quality-related tasks, its contribution is often assessed in terms of automation rather than its effect on decision quality. This study presents an AI-supported, prompt-driven decision framework designed to strengthen preventive performance within QMS. The framework is implemented through a deterministic software application that formalizes prompt engineering as a rule-based process, transforming informal human problem descriptions into structured prompts suitable for external AI reasoning tools. The application itself does not embed AI and does not generate decisions; instead, it functions as a transparent decision interface that reduces variability in problem formulation and supports methodological consistency. The framework was validated through an industrial case study conducted in a bus chassis manufacturing plant experiencing recurring defects related to missing or incorrectly positioned welded brackets. Quantitative evaluation using Key Performance Indicators demonstrates reduced analysis cycle time, improved completeness of problem definitions, higher corrective action implementation rates, and lower defect recurrence.

Five Cornus mas L. genotypes were analysed based on their attractive colour and high productivity. The ‘Bordo’ cultivar stood out, demonstrating the highest berry weight (3.07 g) and yield per plant (8.24 kg). Close behind was the MH-7-17 selection, with an average yield of 7.37 kg per plant. Both the ‘Bordo’ cultivar and the MH-7-17 selection exhibited excellent agronomic potential, making them ideal candidates for large-scale cultivation. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify the fruits’ levels of sugars, polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins and carotenoids (lycopene and β-carotene) and to evaluate their antioxidant capacity. The ‘Bordo’ cultivar had the highest carotenoid content (0.88 mg lycopene and 2.47 mg β-carotene per 100 g), while the TG-J-9-17 and TG-J-20-17 selections had the highest total content of sugars, polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins and the highest antioxidant capacity. According to the correlations analysis, bigger fruit (which correlated to higher yield) had higher carotenoid content, although lower-level tannin (TTC), flavonoid (TFC), anthocyanin (TAC), and sugar (TSC). Also, total phenolic content (TPC) was positively correlated to TTC, TFC, and radical scavenging activity (RSA), while TFC was positively correlated to TTC, TAC, RSA, but also to TSC. Other positive correlations were those found between TTC and RSA and between lycopene and β-carotene. FTIR spectroscopy was used to identify the characteristic vibrations of the biochemical constituents. Processing the FTIR data using chemometric techniques (principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis) revealed consistent clustering patterns between samples with similar characteristics.

This study examines the influence of build orientation on the mechanical behavior of 316 stainless steel components fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). Additively manufactured tensile specimens produced in different build orientations were experimentally analyzed and compared with reference specimens obtained from conventionally hot-rolled material and laser-cut to identical geometries. Uniaxial tensile testing combined with digital image correlation (DIC) was employed to evaluate the mechanical response and full-field strain evolution. Microstructural features were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while phase composition was assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results reveal a pronounced orientation-dependent mechanical anisotropy in the SLM specimens, reflected in variations in yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and ductility. Specimens loaded perpendicular to the build directions exhibited higher strength but reduced ductility compared to those loaded parallel to the build direction, whereas the rolled material showed a more isotropic mechanical response. Although the XYZ and XZY samples feature similar deposition patterns, the XRD analysis revealed a the existence of a 220 texture. Thus, the mechanical performances of XZY specimens are about 10% lower compared to XYZ printed samples. The stress maximum–strain curves were extrapolated from the true data using the Swift model. The section dedicated to numerical modeling includes a failure model based on the traixility. The numerical models were validated for the range η∈0.33…0.45 specific to uniaxial tension. Fractographic observations further confirmed the correlation between build orientation, microstructural features, and fracture behavior. The present study provides a multiscale experimental framework linking processing conditions, microstructure, and mechanical response in additively manufactured stainless steel.

Abstract Lead-cooled fast reactors (LFR), such as the ALFRED Demonstrator, are pivotal in advancing nuclear technology. This study presents a method for quantifying trace-level impurities generated through various nuclear reactions in lead coolant. It combines inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with Sr-resin-based matrix separation to analyze trace impurities in lead matrices. The Sr-resin effectively removes lead, a highly interfering matrix, enhancing the precision and reliability of detecting trace elements. The study evaluates the effectiveness of lead matrix removal and assesses the method’s reliability for monitoring trace impurities in LFR systems. The results indicate the method’s suitability for tracking small changes in lead composition during the operation of lead-cooled facilities.

Decisions associated with Radioactive Waste (RW) Management programmes are made in the presence of irreducible and reducible uncertainties. Responsibilities and roles of each actor, the nature of the RW disposal programme and the stage in its implementation influence the preferences of each category of actors in approaching uncertainty management. UMAN (UMAN – Uncertainties Management Multi-Actor Network is a Work Package of the European Radioactive Waste Management Programme – EURAD) carries out a strategic study about the management of uncertainties based on extended exchanges among actors representing Waste Management Organisations, Technical Support Organisations, Research Entities and Civil Society, a review of knowledge generated by past and ongoing R&D projects, and findings of international organisations. UMAN discusses the classification schemes and approaches applied in uncertainty management, and identifies possible actions to be considered in the uncertainty treatment. The relevance for the safety of the uncertainties associated with waste inventory, including spent fuel, near-field, site and geosphere and human aspects, as perceived by each type of actors, and approaches used in their management are explored with the aim to reach either a common understanding on how uncertainties relate to risk and safety and how to deal with them along the programme implementation, or at least arrive at a mutual understanding of each individual view. Finally, uncertainties assessed as highly significant and the associated R&D issues that can be further investigated are being identified.

The paper’s aim is the assessment of corrosion behaviour of a CrNx-coated 310 H stainless steel under simulated supercritical water conditions (550 °C and 25 MPa) for up to 2160 h. The CrNx coating was obtained by the thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) method. The oxides grown on this coating were characterized using metallographic and gravimetric analysis, SEM with EDS, and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD). A diffusion mechanism drives oxidation kinetics because it follows a parabolic law. By XRD analysis, the presence of Cr2O3 and Fe3O4 on the surface of the autoclaved CrNx-coated 310 H samples were highlighted. Corrosion susceptibility assessment was performed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear potentiodynamic polarization. EIS impedance spectra show the presence of two capacitive semicircles in the Nyquist diagram, highlighting both the presence of the CrNx coating and the oxide film formed during autoclaving on the 310 H stainless steel. Very low corrosion rates, with values up to 11 nm × year−1, obtained in the case of autoclaved for 2160 h, CrNx-coated samples indicated that the oxides formed on these samples are protective and provide better corrosion resistance. The determination of micro hardness Vickers completed the above investigation.

Acest articol prezinta metoda de testare a probelor prelevate din tuburi de Zircaloy-4 (conditia metalurgica “in stare de livrare”), utilizate pentru intecuirea combustililului fasciculelor inovative CANDU SEU-43. Aceste teste sunt menite sa simuleze comportamentul tecilor intr-un proces de ciclaj de putere in interiorul reactorului. Testarea la oboseala este de tip oligociclic, in afara reactorului, efectuata […]