Novel Cement-Free UHPC with High Gamma-Ray Resistance Using Calcium Oxide–Activated Slag, Iron and Barite Powders, and Steel Fibers
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 12
Abstract
This study focuses on the development and evaluation of a novel cement-free gamma-ray-resistant ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC), known as UHPC-CAS. UHPC-CAS is composed of calcium oxide–activated slag, iron and barite powders, and steel fibers, making it a type of ultrahigh-performance geopolymer concrete (UHPGC). In this study, the effects of replacing silica sand with varying percentages of iron and barite powders on the mechanical and radiation properties of UHPC-CAS were investigated. The optimal replacement ratio of iron powder was found to be 50%, resulting in the highest compressive, tensile, and bending strengths among all mixtures without fibers. Furthermore, the UHPC-CAS samples reinforced with steel fibers and containing barite powder exhibited a more pronounced softening zone than those containing iron powder. With 100% iron powder and 3% steel fibers, UHPC-CAS achieved superior resistance to gamma rays, as evidenced by the highest attenuation coefficient of 0.234 cm and the lowest half-value layer of 2.96 cm. This research demonstrates the potential for developing sustainable cement-free UHPC for use in nuclear facilities and other applications requiring high radiation shielding.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study are included in the published paper.
Acknowledgments
This work is based upon research funded by Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) under Project No. 4027233.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 12 • December 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 4, 2024
Accepted: Apr 30, 2024
Published online: Sep 24, 2024
Published in print: Dec 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Feb 24, 2025
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