• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.2335-2347
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• 2023

As medical facilities are usually built at urban areas, special concrete aggregates and evaluation methods are needed to optimize the design of concrete walls by balancing density, thickness, material composition, cost, and other factors. Carbon treatment rooms require a high radiation shielding requirement, as the neutron yield from carbon therapy is much higher than the neutron yield of protons. In this case study, the maximum carbon energy is 430 MeV/u and the maximum current is 0.27 nA from a hybrid particle therapy system. Hospital or facility construction should consider this requirement to design a special heavy concrete. In this work, magnetite is adopted as the major aggregate. Density is determined mainly by the major aggregate content of magnetite, and a heavy concrete test block was constructed for structural tests. The compressive strength is 35.7 MPa. The density ranges from 3.65 g/cm³ to 4.14 g/cm³, and the iron mass content ranges from 53.78% to 60.38% from the 12 cored sample measurements. It was found that there is a linear relationship between density and iron content, and mixing impurities should be the major reason leading to the nonuniform element and density distribution. The effect of this nonuniformity on radiation shielding properties for a carbon treatment room is investigated by three groups of Monte Carlo simulations. Higher density dominates to reduce shielding thickness. However, a higher content of high-Z elements will weaken the shielding strength, especially at a lower dose rate threshold and vice versa. The weakened side effect of a high iron content on the shielding property is obvious at 2.5 µSv=h. Therefore, we should not blindly pursue high Z content in engineering. If the thickness is constrained to 2 m, then the density can be reduced to 3.3 g/cm³, which will save cost by reducing the magnetite composition with 50.44% iron content. If a higher density of 3.9 g/cm³ with 57.65% iron content is selected for construction, then the thickness of the wall can be reduced to 174.2 cm, which will save space for equipment installation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.1230-1236
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• 2016

This study aims to determine the effect of fly ash with a high replacing ratio of clay on the radiation shielding properties of bricks. Some interaction parameters (mass attenuation coefficients, half value layer, effective atomic number, effective electron density, and absorption efficiency) of clay fly ash bricks were measured with a NaI(Tl) detector at 661.6 keV, 1,173.2 keV, and 1,332.5 keV. For the investigation of their shielding behavior, fly ash bricks were molded using an admixture to clay. A narrow beam transmission geometry condition was used for the measurements. The measured values of these parameters were found in good agreement with the theoretical calculations. The elemental compositions of the clay fly ash bricks were analyzed by using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. At selected energies the values of the effective atomic numbers and effective electron densities showed a very modest variation with the composition of the fly ash. This seems to be due to the similarity of their elemental compositions. The obtained results were also compared with concrete, in order to study the effect of fly ash content on the radiation shielding properties of clay fly ash bricks. The clay fly ash bricks showed good shielding properties for moderate energy gamma rays. Therefore, these bricks are feasible and eco-friendly compared with traditional clay bricks used for construction.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.792-800
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• 2017

The essential requirement of a material to be used for engineering purposes at nuclear establishments is its ability to attenuate the most penetrating ionizing radiations, gamma $({\gamma})-rays$. Mostly, high-Z materials such as heavy concrete, lead, mercury, and their mixtures or alloys have been used in the construction of nuclear establishments and thus termed as nuclear engineering materials (NEM). The NEM are classified into two categories, namely opaque and transparent, depending on their behavior towards the visible spectrum of EM waves. The majority of NEM are opaque. By contrast, various types of glass, which are transparent to visible light, are necessary at certain places in the nuclear establishments. In the present study, ${\gamma}-ray$ shielding behaviors (GSB) of six glass samples (transparent NEM) were evaluated and compared with some opaque NEM in a wide range of energy (15 keV-15 MeV) and optical thickness (OT). The study was performed by computing various ${\gamma}-ray$ shielding parameters (GSP) such as the mass attenuation coefficient, equivalent atomic number, and buildup factor. A self-designed and validated computer-program, the buildup factor-tool, was used for various computations. It has been established that some glass samples show good GSB, thus can safely be used in the construction of nuclear establishments in conjunction with the opaque NEM as well.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.247-254
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• 2004

According to developing high energy linear accelerators and treatment methods, like (3 dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), many radiotherapy centers are replacing older linear accelerators with new higher technical machines. This often presents a shielding problem as the designed shield for the existing rooms is not adequate for the higher technical machines. Additional shielding in limited existing space becomes necessary. We are replacing older brachytherapy room with new higher technical linear accelerator for IMRT. This room is not adequate for the IMRT machine without additional shielding design. The logical development of optimum structural shielding designs with concrete and high density shielding blocks are presented. We obtained following results by comparison between the pre-calculating values and actual survey of completed LINAC installation. High density shielding blocks have more powerful radiation protection about 2 times.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.2613-2620
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• 2023

Excellent thermal neutron absorption performance of boron expands the potential use of boron rich slag to prepare epoxy resin matrix nuclear shielding composites. However, shielding attenuation behaviors and mechanism of the composites against gamma rays are unclear. Based on the radiation protection theory, Phy-X/PSD, XCOM, and ⁶⁰Co gamma ray source were integrated to obtain the shielding parameters of boron rich slag/epoxy resin composites at 0.015-15 MeV, which include mass attenuation coefficient (µ_t), linear attenuation coefficient (µ), half value thickness layer (HVL), electron density (N_eff), effective atomic number (Z_eff), exposure buildup factor (EBF) and exposure absorption buildup factor (EABF).µ_t, µ, HVL, N_eff, Z_eff, EBF and EABF are 0.02-7 cm²/g, 0.04-17 cm^-1, 0.045-20 cm, 5-14, 3 × 10²³-8 × 10²³ electron/g, 0-2000, and 0-3500. Shielding performance is BS4, BS3, BS3, BS1 in descending order, but worse than ordinary concrete. µ and HVL of BS1-BS4 for ⁶⁰Co gamma ray is 0.095-0.110 cm^-1 and 6.3-7.2 cm. Shielding mechanism is main interactions for attenuation gamma ray by BS1-BS4 are elements with higher content or higher atomic number via Photoelectric Absorption at low energy range, and elements with higher content via Compton Scattering and Pair Production in Nuclear Field at middle and higher energy range.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.234-243
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• 2023

The electromagnetic pulse(EMP) is a general term for high-output electromagnetic waves, and is classified into EMP generated from nuclear weapons, non-nuclear EMP, and EMP generated by natural phenomena. Electromagnetic pulses are means that can cause fatal damage to all electronic devices with electromagnetic elements, such as communication devices, mobile phones, computers, TVs, and means of transportation. In this study, the electromagnetic pulse(EMP) shielding effectiveness evaluation of paints according to the type and amount of carbon material was conducted to develop EMP shielding inorganic paint using carbon materials. In order to analyze the improvement of compatibility and dispersibility between materials, experiments were conducted two times with about 27 types of mixture proportions, and the electromagnetic pulse shielding effectiveness was evaluated by the electrical resistance measurement method. As a result of applying the EMP shielding paint developed through this study to shielding concrete, it was confirmed that the shielding performance was improved from about 25 dB to a maximum of 40 dB.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.384-391
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• 2012

In this paper, reinforced concrete structures are modeled and analyzed. Reinforced concrete has been an essential element in the construction and one that is provided for shielding effectiveness at particular frequencies by rebar placed as a set up in the form of a grid. Using commercial 3-dimensional electromagnetic(3D EM) tool to analyze the reinforced concrete structure, the procedure of analysis for reinforced concrete is computed by dividing concrete, rebar and entire reinforced concrete. The spacing of rebar is bigger, transmission coefficient is higher and the diameter of rebar is bigger, transmission coefficient is lower. Also, in case of two layers is analyzed by gap of layers. Using single layer rebar that thickness of rebar given by 10, 20 and 30 mm have transmission coefficient of -1.89, -2.73 and -4.76 dB/10 cm at 500 MHz. Also, two layers rebar obtain -1.89, -2.73 and -4.76 dB/10 cm for same conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2004.02a
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• pp.114-129
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• 2004

The 3D simulations for the Rotary Specimen Rack (RSR), the shielding concret, and the reactor core dismantling processes in the Korea Research Reactor-1&2(KRR-1&2) were carried out in the present work. The four main dismantling items, which are the RSR, reactor core, beam tube, and the thermal column and the shield concrete, were selected among the many components in the KRR-2 by consideration of the activation, worker training, difficulty of the work and so on. On the basis of these, we built 3D CAD models, selected the proper dismantling technologies, and reviewed their dismantling processes. In this study, the 3D simulation results of the shielding concrete, and the reactor core dismantling processes are also presented and discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.295.2-295
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• 1999

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2016

Concrete walls of neutron generating facilities such as fusion reactors and fission reactors become radioactive by neutron irradiation. Both low-activation and neutron shielding are a critical concern at the dismantling stage after the shutdown of facilities with a requirement of radioactive waste management. To tackle this, two types of additives were investigated in fabricating mortar specimens: synthetic high polymers and boron carbide. It is well known that a hydrogen atom is effective in neutron shielding by an elastic scattering because its mass is almost the same as that of the neutron. And boron is an effective neutron absorber with a big neutron absorption cross section. In this study, the effect of the type, shape, and size of polymers were investigated as well as that of boron carbide. Total 16 mix designs were prepared to reveal the effect of polymers on mechanical properties and neutron shielding performance. The neutron does equivalent of polymers-based mortar for fast neutrons decreased by 36 %, and the count rate of boron carbide-based mortar with regard to thermal neutrons decreased by 90 % compared to conventional mortar. These results showed that a combination of polymers and boron carbide compounds has potential to reduce the thickness of neutron shields as well as radioactive waste from reactors.