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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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.
G. R. Kirkland, E. R. Davies, M. E. Lambert
Nuclear Technology | Volume 55 | Number 2 | November 1981 | Pages 470-478
Technical Paper | Materials | doi.org/10.13182/NT55-478
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
During commissioning of the Dounreay prototype fast reactor steam generators in 1974, a steam-to-sodium leak occurred in the tube-to-tube-plate weld area in one of three superheaters. This caused caustic stress corrosion of the tube plate in the areas exposed to the products of the sodium-water reaction. Metallurgical examination of several welds revealed one manufacturing defect, which was due to reheat cracking. This was the likely cause of the initial steam-to-sodium leak that resulted in failure in several adjacent tubes due to caustic stress corrosion cracking. The holes in the tube plate where the welds had been cut out for examination were plugged by explosive welding techniques and the unit returned to service.