Gamma ray and neutron shielding characteristics of polypropylene fiber-reinforced heavyweight concrete exposed to high temperatures

Abstract

The residual properties of shielding structures need to be redefined after exposure to elevated temperatures due to their probable radiological hazards on biodiversity. In this study, the effect of high temperatures on mechanical, gamma ray and neutron attenuation characteristics was determined for limestone, barite and siderite concrete shields reinforced with polypropylene fiber. The increase in temperature up to 600 °C reduced the ultrasonic pulse velocity and compressive strength values of these shields by 59% and 62%, respectively. A good linear correlation (R2 ≥ 0.97) was found between these values. While the gamma ray linear attenuation coefficients increased by 9% for barite concrete, and reduced by 15% for normal concrete and by 17% for siderite concrete at 600 °C, trivial fluctuations (from −1% to +7%) were observed at 300 °C. The neutron attenuation factors of these shields gradually reduced up to 31% with the increase of temperature. The performance of siderite concrete was found to be slightly better than that of barite concrete in terms of strength and neutron shielding characteristics. With the satisfactory linear attenuation coefficients at all energy levels of gamma rays, barite concrete seems to be the most suitable concrete type under high temperature risks.