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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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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.
H. J. Sutherland, J. E. Smaardyk, L. A. Kent
Nuclear Technology | Volume 49 | Number 1 | June 1980 | Pages 70-79
Technical Paper | Nuclear Power Reactor Safety / Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT80-A32508
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An acoustic, pulse-echo technique has been used as part of the large-scale, sodium/concrete interaction tests being conducted at Sandia Laboratories to measure the penetration of a large pool (up to 186 kg) of liquid sodium (initial temperature as high as 600°C) into a limestone concrete crucible. The acoustic data give information on the penetration, penetration rate, and condition of the sodium/concrete interface during the test. Two distinct attack modes have been seen. The first is chemical, and proceeds initially at ∼i mm/min and is of limited extent. The second is mechanical (spallation), and proceeds more rapidly (∼4 mm/min) and appears to be limited only by the reaction kinetics.