Georadiological Barrier Gamma Attenuation Model for Waste Containment. I: Model Formulation
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Volume 135, Issue 4
Abstract
Emission of gamma rays from buried and exposed radioactive materials poses health risks at radiologically contaminated sites. Covering the source material with a barrier of adequate thickness and physicochemical composition can reduce the intensity of transmitted gamma rays , thereby reducing such risks. Herein, the Geo-Radiological Barrier Gamma Attenuation Model (GRBGAM) is developed to quantify attenuation by earthen covers. The model allows variation of barrier and radioactive source input parameters and comparison of emitted intensities and attenuation ratios of different barrier designs for virtually any radioactive isotope decay chain. The model calculates the activities of successive amounts of decaying isotopes within a decay chain and temporally couples the results with an exponential absorption equation to estimate the exit intensity of radiation from barriers. A Weibull function integrated into the absorption equation, scales temporal changes in barrier density during long service times. This model can be used to optimize georadiological (georad) barrier mix composition and thickness to increase attenuation ratio to acceptable levels.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 4 • April 2009
Pages: 225 - 233
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Sep 4, 2007
Accepted: Oct 28, 2008
Published online: Apr 1, 2009
Published in print: Apr 2009
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