Experimental, analytical, and simulation studies of modified concrete mix for radiation shielding in a mixed radiation field
Abstract The current study assessed two concrete mixes prepared using dolomite and barite/limonite aggregates to shield against both energetic photons and neutrons. After that, a designed mix which comprised barite/goethite aggregates plus fine-powdered boron carbide additive, was proposed to improv...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44978-8 |
| _version_ | 1797453012563656704 |
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| author | Islam M. Nabil Moamen G. El-Samrah Ahmed Omar A. F. Tawfic A. F. El Sayed |
| author_facet | Islam M. Nabil Moamen G. El-Samrah Ahmed Omar A. F. Tawfic A. F. El Sayed |
| author_sort | Islam M. Nabil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The current study assessed two concrete mixes prepared using dolomite and barite/limonite aggregates to shield against both energetic photons and neutrons. After that, a designed mix which comprised barite/goethite aggregates plus fine-powdered boron carbide additive, was proposed to improve the overall radiation shielding properties and in the same time, doesn’t compromise or even improve the physic-mechanical properties of the mature concrete. The assessment started first with intensive experimental investigations to investigate the prepared mixes’ shielding capabilities against both γ-rays and fast neutrons. Then, analytical computations were performed via number of reliable software programs such as; Phy-X, NXCom, MRCsC, JANIS-4, and MCNP5, in order to confirm the experimental results and to validate the created Monte-Carlo models. Finally, an intensive radiation shielding assessment for all concrete mixes understudy using, mainly, the validated MCNP models, was performed. The obtained results have revealed the superiority of barite mixes over the dolomite mix concerning attenuating photons moreover, the proposed designed mix has shown superiority over the other two prepared mixes considering shielding against; energetic photons, fast/thermal neutrons, and secondary emitted γ-rays, which nominates this mix to be a suitable universal shield that can be used even in mixed radiation fields. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:16:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a025cb03c4a44f269f124760cb892226 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:16:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a025cb03c4a44f269f124760cb8922262023-11-26T13:03:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-10-0113111610.1038/s41598-023-44978-8Experimental, analytical, and simulation studies of modified concrete mix for radiation shielding in a mixed radiation fieldIslam M. Nabil0Moamen G. El-Samrah1Ahmed Omar2A. F. Tawfic3A. F. El Sayed4Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum UniversityNuclear Engineering Department, Military Technical CollegeNuclear Engineering Department, Military Technical CollegeNuclear Engineering Department, Military Technical CollegePhysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo UniversityAbstract The current study assessed two concrete mixes prepared using dolomite and barite/limonite aggregates to shield against both energetic photons and neutrons. After that, a designed mix which comprised barite/goethite aggregates plus fine-powdered boron carbide additive, was proposed to improve the overall radiation shielding properties and in the same time, doesn’t compromise or even improve the physic-mechanical properties of the mature concrete. The assessment started first with intensive experimental investigations to investigate the prepared mixes’ shielding capabilities against both γ-rays and fast neutrons. Then, analytical computations were performed via number of reliable software programs such as; Phy-X, NXCom, MRCsC, JANIS-4, and MCNP5, in order to confirm the experimental results and to validate the created Monte-Carlo models. Finally, an intensive radiation shielding assessment for all concrete mixes understudy using, mainly, the validated MCNP models, was performed. The obtained results have revealed the superiority of barite mixes over the dolomite mix concerning attenuating photons moreover, the proposed designed mix has shown superiority over the other two prepared mixes considering shielding against; energetic photons, fast/thermal neutrons, and secondary emitted γ-rays, which nominates this mix to be a suitable universal shield that can be used even in mixed radiation fields.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44978-8 |
| spellingShingle | Islam M. Nabil Moamen G. El-Samrah Ahmed Omar A. F. Tawfic A. F. El Sayed Experimental, analytical, and simulation studies of modified concrete mix for radiation shielding in a mixed radiation field Scientific Reports |
| title | Experimental, analytical, and simulation studies of modified concrete mix for radiation shielding in a mixed radiation field |
| title_full | Experimental, analytical, and simulation studies of modified concrete mix for radiation shielding in a mixed radiation field |
| title_fullStr | Experimental, analytical, and simulation studies of modified concrete mix for radiation shielding in a mixed radiation field |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental, analytical, and simulation studies of modified concrete mix for radiation shielding in a mixed radiation field |
| title_short | Experimental, analytical, and simulation studies of modified concrete mix for radiation shielding in a mixed radiation field |
| title_sort | experimental analytical and simulation studies of modified concrete mix for radiation shielding in a mixed radiation field |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44978-8 |
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