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AI-Based Documentation Analysis for Safety Assessment of Packages for Radioactive Material
No full textThe transportation of radioactive material requires, dependent on type and quantity of the radioactive material, a regulatory approval based on the package type. Safety assessments shall be conducted in compliance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations and documented in a comprehensive package design safety report to obtain approval from authority. This comprehensive safety report evaluates a broad range of requirements from the regulations, including mechanical, thermal, shielding, criticality and transport requirements and controls, and testing assessments. Additionally, it encompasses supporting documents such as specifications, inspections, certifications, drawings, and guidelines in a variety of complex documents.
Safety and manufacturing reports contain multiple interconnected sub-reports covering various topics. Changes, such as component modifications, material property updates, or regulatory revisions, often impact multiple sections of the safety analysis reports, making even minor adjustments complex and time-consuming. Each transport package has unique requirements to be fulfilled, making every safety report distinct, despite following the same regulatory framework.
Most documentation exists in standard digital formats but is often not machine interpretable, preventing automated analysis of the critical dependencies between them. This paper argues that moving beyond simple digitization towards structured knowledge representation is essential for addressing these challenges. We propose a multi-stage approach, beginning with foundational AI technologies such as Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and progressing toward the construction of Knowledge Graphs (KGs). KGs convert unstructured and semi-structured information into a connected, queryable network, enabling precise tracing and visualization of complex interdependencies within the documentation landscape.
By linking interpretable content directly to datasheets, tables, simulations, experimental results, standards, and regulations, such a system would automatically identify changes and interdependencies. Related conditions could be validated using AI-based tools, reducing the need for manual intervention, improving both efficiency and safety.
Human error plays a significant role in drafting, reviewing, and revising safety reports, often requiring iterative review cycles and multiple reviewers before approval. A digital quality infrastructure could reduce iterations and further improve efficiency. Integrating AI into this process could optimize safety assessments and enhance their robustness by leveraging interpretability to enhance safety.
This preliminary study explores the readiness and requirements for using intelligent documentation analysis system in the context of regulatory compliance for package safety for the transport of radioactive material. By analysing current documentation workflows, we identify how LLM-based tools can interpret complex safety reports and highlight critical interdependencies and then demonstrate why a KG-based architecture is necessary to robustly manage and query critical interdependencies. This lays the groundwork for future agentic AI systems capable of proactively supporting the safety assessment lifecycle, while stressing the importance of robust data governance and AI reliability in this highly regulated context
Experimental and numerical analyses of hydrogen flames for the thermal testing of transport packages for radioactive material
No full textIn this paper we present an update of the hydrogen-based test rig for an ongoing feasibility study of using hydrogen as an energy source for the thermal testing of transport packages containing radioactive materials. The test rig is capable of combusting hydrogen for a wide range of different burner geometries, mass flows, hydrogen blends and single jet flame operations as well as a full array of burners for thermal testing can be set up. As this type of fire test according to the IAEA boundary conditions does not yet exist, a large number of preliminary investigations, safety assessments and simulations must be carried out in order to develop a viable concept for hydrogen fires. In a first step of the feasibility study, the temperature, structure, and radiative behavior of hydrogen jet flames must be surveyed. The simulation with a single hydrogen flame was investigated in a previous work. In the next step the results are used to study the interaction and structural behavior of multiple jet flames in proximity with varying nozzle distances. With the test rig completed, it will be possible in future works to design burner frames suitable for fire reference tests to make comparisons with pool and propane fires used in assessment procedure today. Thus, preliminary comparative numerical simulations are conducted to model the behavior of overlapping hydrogen jet flames using the software package Ansys®. This paper gives an overview on the current state and design of the test rig. Furthermore, the results of the simulations show that nozzle geometry, mass flow and nozzle distance provide significant design margin for designing a test fire capable of fully engulfing a specimen
Structure-property relationship of cross-linked chitosan-ethyl cellulose membranes
No full textIntensive research is focused on creating cost-effective, high-performance polyelectrolyte membranes (PEMs) for electrochemical devices designed to generate and/or store electrical energy. On the other hand, biopolymer materials have been utilized in a wide range of applications across medical and engineering fields, as well as in the textile and energy sectors. Therefore, in this study, chemically cross-linked chito-san/ethyl cellulose-citric acid (CS-EC-CA) membranes were prepared by a casting technique. The structure-property relationship of CS-EC/CA has been discussed based on the molar ratio of CS. The structural properties of the resultant membrane were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy, thermal stability was assessed using thermogravimetric analysis.
Moreover, the ion exchange capacity (IEC) and water uptake of the membrane were studied. FTIR analysis revealed a significant broadening of absorption peaks in the range of 3200–3500 cm-1 , corresponding to -OH groups, presence of CA. A new peak at 1725 cm-1 confirmed the formation of chemical linkages between CA and CS-EC. The results of the thermal analysis revealed that a thermally stable membrane was obtained when it was chemically cross-linked compared to non-cross-linked membranes. The IEC values of the modified membranes were enhanced significantly, increasing from 0.08 mmol/g for pure CS to 0.5 mmol/g for CS (50%) and 0.8 mmol/g for CS (50%) cross-linked withCA. Furthermore, the cross-linked membranes demonstrated the lowest water and ethanol uptake values, emphasizing their suitability for fuel cell applications
Editorial on special issue on wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires
No full textResearch and standardization in the field of wildland fires that spread into urban areas, known as wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires, are of paramount importance globally. Recent WUI fires in Chile, Greece, Japan, and the United States of America states of California and Hawaii, following many other WUI fire disasters, have demonstrated the complex nature of this globally important problem. For these reasons, the editor in chief of Fire and Materials, Stephen Grayson, invited Samuel L. Manzello and Anja Hofmann to develop a special issue on WUI fires. In support of this effort, an open call was posted on the Fire and Materials website, soliciting papers on the following topics:
• Pre- and post-fire data to understand fire spread and ignition of materials in WUI communities.
• Firebrand generation from materials.
• Ignition of both vegetative and human-made fuels from WUI fire exposures of direct flame contact, radiant heat, and firebrands.
• Human behavior in WUI fires.
• Physical modeling studies of WUI fire behavior and structure ignition.
• Structure ignition mitigation strategies.
• New material development to harden structures to WUI fire exposures
Experimental Analysis of Fire Behaviour in Pine Forests and Agricultural Fields Large Scale Tests conducted within the TREEADS Project
No full textIn two large-scale tests fire spread mechanisms in vegetation ground fires were studied in a pine forest and a crop field. Both fires were ignited with a drip torch using a gasoline-diesel mix. The tests were part of the European TREEADS project, specifically in the research work from the German Pilot focusing on Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. These regions are known for dry, sandy soil, with pine trees covering approximately 73% of forested areas in Brandenburg and 48% in Saxony-Anhalt.
The results of both experiments make a substantial contribution to optimizing extinguishing methods and strategies and enhancing a continued wildfire research in Germany. The test areas included a 16 x 22 m plot in a Saxony-Anhalt pine forest and a 20 x 100 m plot on a crop field, with fires ignited along a line using a drip torch at both locations. Fire spread was monitored with video and IR cameras mounted on a drone. In the pine forest, 96 thermocouples and gas sensors were
attached to trees and a mobile FTIR spectrometer was used for real-time gas measurements. A protective strip was created around the test area using a soil tiller and fire-retardant foam to prevent uncontrolled fire spread. The experiment showed a consistent temperature rise as the fire was ignited and spread.
Thermocouple data captured detailed thermal dynamics, while tree-mounted gas sensors recorded significant fluctuations in combustible gases. Real-time gas spectra from the FTIR spectrometer enabled precise smoke analysis. Conducted in stable weather - 23°C, light wind, low soil moisture—this setup improved reproducibility, with a weather station monitoring temperature, humidity and wind conditions to assess fire-environment interactions. After ignition process the fire showed a slow spread and distinct combustion phases. Smouldering was more pronounced in areas with grasses and deadwood, highlighting vegetation-specific burn patterns critical to wildfire research. The experiment showed numerous smouldering and burning spots, with flames igniting and extinguishing repeatedly. However, flame height did not exceed half a meter. Due to substantial smoke production, visibility in the test field was limited and team members wore respirators to collect specific smoke gases such as benzene and formaldehyde for analysis. Field measurements showed flame temperatures exceeding 500°C. Toxic smoke gas concentrations of up to 238 ppm CO were measured, although precise gas capture appeared challenging due to wind turbulence.
The second large-scale area in Nauen, a cut wheat field (stubble height approx. 30 cm) was burned, with fire spreading across approximately 700 m². A 20 m ignition line directed flames with the wind.
Fire spread was observed using drones equipped with IR cameras. Experiments demonstrated how unpredictable and challenging it is to measure large outdoor fires. To enable a comprehensive theoretical and numerical description of fire dynamics in wildfires, it is essential to conduct further large-scale experiments
Experimental Analysis of Fire Behaviour in Pine Forests and Agricultural Fields Large Scale Tests conducted within the TREEADS Project
No full textIn two large-scale tests fire spread mechanisms in vegetation ground fires were studied in a pine forest and a crop field. Both fires were ignited with a drip torch using a gasoline-diesel mix. The tests were part of the European TREEADS project, specifically in the research work from the German Pilot focusing on Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. These regions are known for dry, sandy soil, with pine trees covering approximately 73% of forested areas in Brandenburg and 48% in Saxony-Anhalt. The results of both experiments make a substantial contribution to optimizing extinguishing methods and strategies and enhancing a continued wildfire research in Germany.
The test areas included a 16 x 22 m plot in a Saxony-Anhalt pine forest and a 20 x 100 m plot on a crop field, with fires ignited along a line using a drip torch at both locations. Fire spread was monitored with video and IR cameras mounted on a drone. In the pine forest, 96 thermocouples and gas sensors were attached to trees and a mobile FTIR spectrometer was used for real-time gas measurements. A protective strip was created around the test area using a soil tiller and fire-retardant foam to prevent uncontrolled fire spread. The experiment showed a consistent temperature rise as the fire was ignited and spread. Thermocouple data captured detailed thermal dynamics, while tree-mounted gas sensors recorded significant fluctuations in combustible gases. Real-time gas spectra from the FTIR spectrometer enabled precise smoke analysis. Conducted in stable weather - 23°C, light wind, low soil moisture—this setup improved reproducibility, with a weather station monitoring temperature, humidity and wind conditions to assess fire-environment interactions. After ignition process the fire showed a slow spread and distinct combustion phases. Smouldering was more pronounced in areas with grasses and deadwood, highlighting vegetation-specific burn patterns critical to wildfire research. The experiment showed numerous smouldering and burning spots, with flames igniting and extinguishing repeatedly. However, flame height did not exceed half a meter. Due to substantial smoke production, visibility in the test field was limited and team members wore respirators to collect specific smoke gases such as benzene and formaldehyde for analysis. Field measurements showed flame temperatures exceeding 500°C. Toxic smoke gas concentrations of up to 238 ppm CO were measured, although precise gas capture appeared challenging due to wind turbulence.
The second large-scale area in Nauen, a cut wheat field (stubble height approx. 30 cm) was burned, with fire spreading across approximately 700 m². A 20 m ignition line directed flames with the wind. Fire spread was observed using drones equipped with IR cameras. Experiments demonstrated how unpredictable and challenging it is to measure large outdoor fires. To enable a comprehensive theoretical and numerical description of fire dynamics in wildfires, it is essential to conduct further large-scale experiments
Practical application of an automated 3D metallography system for the reconstruction and microstructural analysis of porosity in a sintered steel
No full textIn the 3D microstructural analysis of a digital twin of porosity in the sintered steel Astaloy CrA, pore shape, average pore size as well as pore distribution will be analyzed. Porosity plays a major role in powder-metallurgical materials since it greatly impacts the mechanical properties of these materials and therefore represents a key parameter in their characterization. Based on the robot-assisted automated serial sectioning and imaging (RASI) system of the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und Prüfung) in Berlin, the technique of metallographic serial sectioning will be used to image the microstructure and reconstruct a digital 3D twin from the stack of images obtained. Compared with an individual 2D microsection, the quantitative microstructural analysis of this 3D twin will enable more accurate conclusions on the shape, size and distribution of pores. This paper will detail the key steps in 3D microstructural analysis, including the metallographic preparation routine, the imaging technique, image alignment as well as the segmentation of pores. After the methodology has been described, the results of the quantitative microstructural analysis will be presented and the validity of quantitative parameters of 3D and 2D images will be compared and discussed. The analysis of more than 10,000 pores revealed a correlation between pore shape and pore size. It was also found that a 2D representation of the material surface is insufficient for a precise quantitative characterization of porosity.In der 3D-Gefügeanalyse eines digitalen Zwillings von Poren in einem Sinterstahl des Typs Astaloy CrA werden sowohl die Porenform als auch die durchschnittliche Porengröße und -verteilung analysiert. Die Porosität spielt in pulvermetallurgischen Werkstoffen eine große Rolle, da sie erheblich die mechanischen Eigenschaften beeinflusst und daher bei der Charakterisierung dieser Werkstoffe ein wichtiger Parameter ist. Basierend auf der Verwendung des Robot-Assisted Automated Serial-Sectioning and Imaging (RASI)-Systems der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und Prüfung (BAM) in Berlin, wird das metallographische Serienschnittverfahren genutzt, um das Gefüge aufzunehmen und aus dem Bildstapel einen digitalen 3D-Zwilling zu rekonstruieren. Verglichen zu einem 2D-Einzelschliff ermöglicht die quantitative Gefügeanalyse dieses 3D-Zwillings präzisere Aussagen zu Porenform, -größe und -verteilung. Diese Arbeit beschreibt die wesentlichen Schritte, die für eine 3D-Gefügeanalyse nötig sind, darunter die metallografische Präparationsroutine, das Bildgebungs-Verfahren, das Alignment der Bilder sowie die Segmentierung der Poren. Im Anschluss an die methodische Darstellung werden die Ergebnisse der quantitativen Gefügeanalyse präsentiert und ein Vergleich zwischen der Aussagekraft der quantitativen Parameter von 3D- und 2D-Abbildungen diskutiert. Bei der Analyse von über 10.000 Poren konnte eine Korrelation zwischen der Form und der Porengröße aufgezeigt werden. Weiterhin konnte aufgezeigt werden, dass eine 2D-Abbildung der Werkstoffoberfläche nicht ausreichend für eine eindeutige quantitative Beschreibung der Porosität ist
Sequence of Mus Musculus monoclonal IgG2c anti-CCMV Immunoglobulin
No full textWe report the full-length nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the light (κ) and heavy chain of the IgG2c anti-CCMV monoclonal antibody (hybridoma clone BAM-CCMV-29-81), generated against Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV). Sequencing of hybridoma clone was performed using a cost-effective Sanger-based workflow that includes DNA-level subclass determination and peptide mass fingerprint confirmation. The κ-chain sequence was assigned to IGKV4-6101 / IGKJ101, while the heavy chain was assigned to IGHV2-601 / IGHD1-101 / IGHJ3*01 with IgG2c constant regions from the NOD strain. Both chains were validated against RNA Illumina sequencing, confirming 100% identity. The sequences are available in GenBank under accession numbers PX123807 (κ-chain) and PX123808 (heavy chain)
Characterization and assessment of smoke emissions from smouldering forest fires: a combined experimental and numerical approach
No full textThis article builds upon the publication "Comprehensive Laboratory Study on Smoke Gases During the Thermal Oxidative Decomposition of Forest and Vegetation Fuels"1 in Fire and Materials, 2024, summarizing the experimental methodology and highlighting key findings. The study investigates the gas-phase composition of smoke emissions from forest and vegetation fuels. The study focuses on pine-dominated ecosystems in Eastern Germany, with the objective of improving the understanding of wildfire-related gaseous emissions, as a contribution to the German pilot activities within the EU Project TREEADS. Using a modified DIN tube furnace in a bench-scale setup, the investigation centers on gaseous emissions from five trees and two ground cover species, explicitly excluding particulate matter
Collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden Part 2 Investigations into the causes of the collapse and the consequences
No full textAm 11. September 2024 ereignete sich der Teileinsturz der vorgespannten Carolabrücke in Dresden ohne Vorankündigung. Im Teil 1 des Beitrags wurden Konstruktion und Bau der Brücke, die Maßnahmen zur Instandhaltung und Sanierung sowie die Problematik Spannungsrisskorrosion vorgestellt. Im vorliegenden Teil 2 werden die umfassenden Untersuchungen zur Erkundung der Einsturzursache beschrieben, der Versuch der Rekonstruktion des Einsturzvorgangs unternommen sowie erste Erkenntnisse zum weiteren Umgang mit anderen Brücken, die SpRK‐gefährdeten Stahl enthalten, dargelegt. Zudem wird auf das Monitoring eingegangen, welches zur Absicherung der verbliebenen Überbauzüge vorgesehen wurde, und ein Ausblick auf die Herausforderungen beim Rückbau gegeben