Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV using FLUKA Simulation

Berkay Çakır; Uğur Gökmen

doi:10.54287/gujsa.1951854

Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV using FLUKA Simulation

Abstract

In this study, the dose distribution and induced radioactivity of a proton-irradiated Nitinol (NiTi) shape memory alloy plate with dimensions of 2 × 1 × 0.3 cm were investigated using the FLUKA Monte Carlo code at three different proton energy values of 8.5, 25.5, and 42.5 MeV under a constant beam intensity of 2.0 × 10¹³ p/s. Simulations carried out through the FLUKA/FLAIR interface were used to evaluate the total specific activity, activation-product inventory, residual ambient dose equivalent H*(10) distributions, and neutron fluence spectra at the end of irradiation and after cooling times of 1 hour, 1 day, and 1 week. The results showed that ⁴⁷V was the dominant radionuclide in all energy scenarios. The total specific activity of the sample after irradiation increased from around 1.00 × 10⁷ Bq/g for 8.5 MeV to about 1.12 × 10⁹ Bq/g for 25.5 MeV and 2.30 × 10⁹ Bq/g for 42.5 MeV, respectively, corresponding to an approximately 230-fold increase across the considered energy range. The co-production of ⁴⁸V and ⁶⁴Cu for the 8.5 MeV case is consistent with the radionuclide inventory reported in brachytherapy-oriented activation studies of Nitinol. Maps for residual dose distribution showed that there was maximum radiation field intensity at the center of the implant, which quickly decayed in the initial phase of cooling; however, it remained at high levels after longer cooling time in the higher energy cases. The neutron fluence spectra likewise showed a systematic increase in the secondary radiation field with increasing proton energy, in agreement with the observed activation inventory. Overall, the results provide a structured picture of the energy-dependent activation and dose behavior of proton-irradiated Nitinol. These findings provide a reliable basis for radiation safety assessment, cooling-time optimization, and the planning of future implant-focused proton dosimetry studies.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Biomedical Therapy, Radiation Technology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Berkay Çakır ^*
0009-0001-5500-9438
Türkiye

Uğur Gökmen
0000-0002-6903-0297
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

May 15, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 30, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54287/gujsa.1951854

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA84LP42BT

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Çakır, B., & Gökmen, U. (2026). Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV using FLUKA Simulation. Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation, 13(2), 906-924. https://doi.org/10.54287/gujsa.1951854

AMA

1.Çakır B, Gökmen U. Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV using FLUKA Simulation. GU J Sci, Part A. 2026;13(2):906-924. doi:10.54287/gujsa.1951854

Chicago

Çakır, Berkay, and Uğur Gökmen. 2026. “Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV Using FLUKA Simulation”. Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation 13 (2): 906-24. https://doi.org/10.54287/gujsa.1951854.

EndNote

Çakır B, Gökmen U (June 1, 2026) Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV using FLUKA Simulation. Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation 13 2 906–924.

IEEE

[1]B. Çakır and U. Gökmen, “Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV using FLUKA Simulation”, GU J Sci, Part A, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 906–924, June 2026, doi: 10.54287/gujsa.1951854.

ISNAD

Çakır, Berkay - Gökmen, Uğur. “Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV Using FLUKA Simulation”. Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation 13/2 (June 1, 2026): 906-924. https://doi.org/10.54287/gujsa.1951854.

JAMA

1.Çakır B, Gökmen U. Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV using FLUKA Simulation. GU J Sci, Part A. 2026;13:906–924.

MLA

Çakır, Berkay, and Uğur Gökmen. “Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV Using FLUKA Simulation”. Gazi University Journal of Science Part A: Engineering and Innovation, vol. 13, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 906-24, doi:10.54287/gujsa.1951854.

Vancouver

1.Berkay Çakır, Uğur Gökmen. Investigation of Induced Radioactivity and Dose Distribution in Proton-Irradiated Nitinol SMA at 8.5, 25.5 and 42.5 MeV using FLUKA Simulation. GU J Sci, Part A. 2026 Jun. 1;13(2):906-24. doi:10.54287/gujsa.1951854