Development and evaluation of grit iron scale-MgO heavy density concrete for moderate-temperature radiation shielding

Abstract

This research focuses on the development and evaluation of heavy-density concrete containing Magnesium oxide and grit scale iron aggregate as potential radiation shielding material for water cooled reactors operating at temperatures between 28 °C and 300 °C. Concrete samples were prepared using varying proportions of grit iron scale aggregate (25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 %) along with a reference sample of normal weight concrete without grit iron scale. Various physical properties and characteristics such as fresh density, hardened density, compressive strength, X-ray radiography, Rebound hammer, Ultrasonic pulse velocity, Scanning electron microscopy, attenuation coefficients, half-value layer, tenth-value layers and mean free path of the concrete samples were investigated before and after exposure to various temperatures. The findings revealed a substantial enhancement in the radiation shielding effectiveness and overall concrete properties when grit iron scale was incorporated in combination with MgO, compared to the concrete samples without MgO.