Finite Element Formulation and Simulation of Gamma Ray Attenuation of Single and Multilayer Materials Using Lead, Tungsten and EPDM

Abstract

Gamma rays are high energy radiation that can be injurious to individuals who are exposed to them during their work in facilities such nuclear power plants, medical radiotherapy centers and particle accelerator laboratories. Hence radiation shields with adequate attenuation properties are required for protection. In this work gamma ray attenuation problem as given by Beer and Lambert is formulated and coded based on the finite element method for a narrow beam geometry. Attenuation of radiation from radioactive sources, 173Cs with energy 0.662 MeV and 60 Co having energies 1.173MeV and 1.332MeV in single and multilayer of lead, Tungsten and Ethylene-Propylene Diene Monomer systems have been simulated to study their efficiency in radiation shielding. The simulation results obtained from the finite element code is validated by comparing with well-established Monte Carlo simulation and experimental work. The numerical efficiency of the shielding showed good agreement with the literature.

The Shielding and Mechanical Properties of Tungsten/Epoxy Composites

“…Mixing tungsten powder or oxide into polymers or easily-formed substrates can solve these problems. Research has been conducted on non-metallic radiation shielding materials with tungsten as a filler, including tungsten with epoxy resin (EP) [18][19][20], tungsten powder with rubber, tungsten powder mixed with ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) [21], tungsten oxide mixed with concrete [22], tungsten mixed with polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) [23], tungsten powder mixed with polypropylene (PP) [24], tungsten oxide mixed with waterborne polyurethane (WPU) [25], lead and tungsten-doped silicone rubber [26], tungsten with ternary tellurite glass [27], etc. Yan-Zhang et al [18] prepared and investigated tungsten/epoxy resin composites with heavy tungsten mass fractions, Disclaimer/Publisher's Note: The statements, opinions, and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s).…”