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Title |
Analysis of Radiation Penetration Properties of Heavyweight Aggregate Concrete for Radiation Shielding
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Authors |
고민정(Min-Jeong Ko) ; 김규용(Gyu-Yong Kim) ; 이예찬(Yae-Chan Lee) ; 심희진(Hee-Jin Shim) ; 임수빈(Soo-Bin Lim) ; 김정효(Jeong-Hyo Kim) |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.11112/jksmi.2026.30.1.122 |
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Keywords |
방사선 차폐용 콘크리트; 중량 골재; 적철석; 감마선 차폐; 중성자 차폐(고속 중성자; 열 중성자); 방사선 차폐 성능 Heavyweight concrete; Heavyweight aggregates; Hematite; Gamma-ray shielding; Neutron shielding; Radiation shielding performance |
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Abstract |
This study evaluated the mechanical properties and multi-radiation shielding effectiveness of heavyweight concrete incorporating hematite aggregates. Various candidates for heavyweight aggregates, including hematite, magnetite, oxidizing slag, copper slag, and ferro nickel slag, were investigated to analyze density variations according to the aggregate-to-binder(Agg./Binder) ratio. Hematite was selected as the optimal aggregate due to its superior efficiency in achieving the target density. To further enhance neutron shielding performance, 0.3% boron carbide by weight of concrete was added as an admixture.The experimental results indicated that the concrete reached an average density of 3,687 kg/m³, surpassing the target value, and achieved a 28-day compressive strength of 46.8 MPa, thereby satisfying the structural requirement of 43.5 MPa. In radiation shielding tests, gamma-ray transmittance in the 0.3∼1.6 MeV range was reduced by approximately 30% compared to ordinary concrete. Furthermore, the transmittance of fast and thermal neutrons decreased by approximately 17∼23% and 51%, respectively. These results verify the effectiveness of gamma-ray attenuation driven by high-density aggregates and the neutron moderation and absorption capabilities provided by boron carbide. This research is significant as it provides a quantitative basis for designing high-performance shielding materials that enhance radiation safety and overcome the limitations of conventional thickness-dependent shielding designs through composite shielding strategies.
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