Title: Evaluation of radiation protection properties of novel concrete mixture against photon energy in nuclear applications: simulation and experimental findings

Authors: Brahim El Azzaoui; Mohamed Youssef Messous; Abdessamad Didi; El Mahjoub Chakir; El Mehdi Alibrahmi

Addresses: LPMS, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco; DSS/DPTS/URP/National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, Rabat, Morocco ' National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, Rabat, Morocco ' National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, Rabat, Morocco ' LPMS, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco ' LPMS, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco

Abstract: This study aims to develop highly effective radiation shielding materials for nuclear applications. It investigates concrete mixtures containing barite from five ore sites in Southeast Morocco, emphasising their gamma and X-ray shielding capabilities. Simulations compare four mixtures from each site. Samples with superior radiation attenuation are experimentally tested for validation of the results obtained by MCNP, DOSIMEX, and XCOM. The study reveals a concrete blend (16% cement, 69% Agdz ore barite, 5% sand, and 10% water) as an excellent radiation shield. The Agdz site, with 57.48% barite content, proves the most effective. Good agreement between calculated and empirical data highlights the research's reliability. Dose rate investigations show a 6% average gap between MCNP and DOSIMEX and a 9% difference between DOSIMEX and experiments.

Keywords: attenuation; concrete mixtures; barite; radiation shielding; radiation protection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPEC.2023.135480

International Journal of Power and Energy Conversion, 2023 Vol.14 No.4, pp.376 - 392

Received: 18 Jul 2023
Accepted: 27 Sep 2023
Published online: 14 Dec 2023 *