Radiation shielding properties of shotcrete containing different aggregates

In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of wet mix shotcrete produced using crushed stone aggregate (CS), ferrochrome slag aggregate (FS), and barite (B) aggregate have been investigated. Furthermore, the radiation shielding properties have been determined experimentally, theoretically, and through simulation. A control sample was produced using 50 % CS and 50 % FS. Subsequently, shotcrete groups were produced by substituting B aggregate at replacement rates of 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % instead of FS. The mechanical properties such as density, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strength of the produced spray concrete groups were investigated. Additionally, experimental radiation shielding measurements were conducted using a high -purity germanium (HPGe) detector system with emissions from four different radioactive sources ( 133 Ba, 137 Cs, 60 Co, and 22 Na) spanning nine different gamma energies ranging from 276.5 to 1332.5 keV. As a result of the experimental measurements, the linear attenuation coefficients (mu) of the shotcrete samples were obtained. A proportional increase in mu was determined with increasing barite content. Using the experimental mass attenuation coefficient (mu/rho) results, half -value layer (HVL) and tenth -value layer (TVL) thicknesses, as well as mean free path (MFP) values, were calculated. An increasing B aggregate ratio did not have a significant effect on the mu/rho value, while an increase was observed in the HVL, TVL, and MFP values. Moreover, the WinXCOM interface was employed for theoretical calculations, and the FLUKA Monte Carlo code was utilized for simulation calculations. The obtained data were compared with experimental results, revealing a good agreement between them. Based on the obtained data, it was concluded that increasing the B aggregate ratio resulted in improvement in mechanical properties compared to the control sample, and additionally, it was determined that B aggregate -added shotcrete is an effective gamma radiation shielding material.