Radiation effects in concrete for nuclear power plants – Part I: Quantification of radiation exposure and radiation effects

Field, Kevin G.; Remec, Igor; Pape, Yann Le

doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2014.10.003

Cited by 157 publications

(116 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(57 reference statements)

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“…They confirmed a clear trend of the decrease in the relative strength with the fluence for more than 1-3 × 10 19 n/cm 2 . This trend is almost consistent to the integrated data of irradiated concrete recently reported by Field et al (2015).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…The main reason is considered as an expansion of aggregate, because α-quartz is well-known to show an expansion and density reduction under neutron and electron irradiation (Primak et al 1955;Primak 1958;Bonnet et al 1994;Douillard and Duraud 1996;Bolse 1999;Ewing et al 2000;Field et al 2015). It is hence considered that the natural rock should be sensitive to irradiation, which poses very important issues on the durability of concrete under irradiation as 1) expansion of aggregate, and 2) degradation of concrete performance as a result of 1) (Maruyama et al 2012;Field et al 2015;Giorla et al 2015;Le Pape et al 2015Maruyama et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Change in Relative Density of Natural Rock Minerals Due to Electron Irradiation

Maruyama

Muto

2016

ACT

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We investigated changes in the density of natural rock minerals following high-energy electron irradiation, using the plasmon peak shift of electron energy-loss spectra and transmission electron microscopy. The target materials were the natural rock minerals α-quartz, orthoclase, anorthite, albite, biotite, muscovite, and chlorite. These crystalline minerals can be classified into three groups based on their Si-network geometries: 3-dimensional 6-member ring; 4-member ring + 6-member ring; and planar 6-member ring. The metamictization rates and changes in relative density are discussed using a phenomenological model, which we used to identify the physical parameters that describe the metamictization process as a function of the volume density of Si and Al atoms, or Si atoms alone, in the crystal structures. The relative densities following metamictization all decreased by more than a few percent, except for albite, which became denser. These results suggest that radiolysis damage causes initial compaction, then metamictization, characterized by the expansion of the Siand Al-polyhedra in the aggregate. The stability of concrete containing α-quartz, orthoclase, and anorthite should be further investigated in the light of the present results.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Change in Relative Density of Natural Rock Minerals Due to Electron Irradiation

Maruyama

Muto

2016

ACT

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“…They confirmed clear decreasing trend of Fc/Fco above 1-3 × 10 19 n/cm 2 . Recently, Field et al (2015) summarized more comprehensive data of irradiated concrete and its components, which also support the decreasing trend of physical properties of irradiated concrete as neutron fluence increases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Several studies (Dubrovskii et al 1967;Elluech et al 1971;Pedersen 1971;Hilsdorf et al 1978;Kontani et al 2010;Maruyama et al 2012;Field et al 2015) have suggested that the mechanism of concrete deterioration due to irradiation is aggregate expansion that originates from metamictization or amorphization of silicious rock minerals due to irradiation (Primak et al 1955;Primak 1958;Elluech et al 1971;Eby et al 1992;Bonnet et al 1994;Douillard and Duraud 1996;Bolse 1999;Ewing et al 2000). Due to aggregate expansion, the mortar matrix in concrete is damaged, resulting in deterioration of concrete's physical properties, such as compressive strength and Young's modulus, such as in the case of alkali-silica reaction in concrete (Giorla et al 2015;.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Numerical Model for Concrete Strength Change under Neutron and Gamma-ray Irradiation

Maruyama

Haba²,

Sato

et al. 2016

ACT

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For performance evaluation of existing reinforced concrete members under irradiation conditions, a numerical code called "DEVICE" (Damage EValuation for Irradiated ConcretE), which takes into account the heat, moisture, and radiation transport coupled with cement hydration, is proposed. This code is composed of the established computational cement-based material (CCBM) model and the one-dimensional deterministic transport Sn code "ANISN". In the proposed model, temperature-dependent irradiation-induced expansion of aggregate minerals and resultant strength deterioration of concrete are introduced. Currently, the knowledge and modeling of irradiation-induced expansion of aggregate mineral is limited only for α-quartz. DEVICE was used for evaluating the strength distribution of the decommissioned plant Japan Power Demonstration Reactor (JPDR). Compressive strength distribution in a concrete biological shielding (CBS) wall of the JPDR was obtained by core sampling, and the compressive loading test results were compared with the calculation results. This comparison proved the practicality potential of DEVICE to predict the concrete strength distribution in a CBS. In addition, concrete strength change and its distribution in a CBS of an anonymous two-loop pressurized water reactor was simulated by DEVICE. The contributing factors for the change in the distribution of concrete strength at the inner surface of the CBS are discussed. Furthermore, the ways of integrity evaluation other than the existing allowable fast neutron fluence method are proposed and discussed as follows: 1) mineral composition-based allowable fast neutron fluence; 2) strength prediction at the inner surface based on the expansion of mineral composition of aggregates and the lower limit curve of the ratio of compressive strength of the specimen after irradiation (Fc) to that of the reference specimen (Fco) as a function of concrete expansion; and 3) direct numerical calculation for seismic performance by considering irradiation-induced volume expansion and degradation of concrete.

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“…Many of these applications require the material to withstand exposure to radiations. For example, when used as a concrete aggregate, quartz can be subjected to neutron radiation in nuclear power plants [6,7]. Therefore, it is important to establish a good understanding of the nature of the damages induced by radiations, so that the material durability and reliability can be improved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature of radiation-induced defects in quartz

Wang

Pignatelli

et al. 2015

The Journal of Chemical Physics

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Although quartz (α-form) is a mineral used in numerous applications wherein radiation exposure is an issue, the nature of the atomistic defects formed during radiation-induced damage have not been fully clarified. Especially, the extent of oxygen vacancy formation is still debated, which is an issue of primary importance as optical techniques based on charged oxygen vacancies have been utilized to assess the level of radiation damage in quartz. In this paper, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are applied to study the effects of ballistic impacts on the atomic network of quartz. We show that the defects that are formed mainly consist of over-coordinated Si and O, as well as Si-O connectivity defects, e.g., small Si-O rings and edge-sharing Si tetrahedra. Oxygen vacancies, on the contrary, are found in relatively low abundance, suggesting that characterizations based on E centers do not adequately capture radiation-induced structural damage in quartz. Finally, we evaluate the dependence on the incident energy, of the amount of each type of the point defects formed, and quantify unambiguously the threshold displacement energies for both O and Si atoms. These results provide a comprehensive basis to assess the nature and extent of radiation damage in quartz.

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Radiation effects in concrete for nuclear power plants – Part I: Quantification of radiation exposure and radiation effects

Cited by 157 publications

References 46 publications

Change in Relative Density of Natural Rock Minerals Due to Electron Irradiation

Change in Relative Density of Natural Rock Minerals Due to Electron Irradiation

A Numerical Model for Concrete Strength Change under Neutron and Gamma-ray Irradiation

Nature of radiation-induced defects in quartz

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