https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06040-6
Regular Article
Quality optimization of neutron and gamma concrete shields doped with galena, hematite and limonite for Am-Be neutron source and 137Cs and 60Co gamma sources using experimental method and Monte Carlo simulation
1
Student Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2
Radiation Injuries Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4
Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Arak University, 38156-88349, Arak, Iran
5
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Arak University, 38156-88349, Arak, Iran
Received:
10
July
2024
Accepted:
18
January
2025
Published online:
14
March
2025
This study aims to find the optimal combination ratio for different minerals in the concrete radiation shield structure. In this study, we defined the quality factor (QF) of concrete radiation shielding through experimental methods and Monte Carlo simulations. This quality factor is calculated as the product of the linear attenuation coefficients for neutron radiation (µn) and gamma radiation (µγ), along with the compressive strength of the concrete. We compared these values for samples of galena, limonite and hematite. So far, much research has been conducted in this field; in other past research, a few numbers of samples with different compositions have been examined. However, in this study, different concentrations of the mentioned minerals were examined and a graph of various parameters was drawn, which provides researchers with comprehensive data for the mixing ratio of different materials in the construction of concrete shields. The Am-Be neutron source and the 137Cs and 60Co gamma sources were considered as laboratory and simulation sources. According to the results, by increasing the concentration of minerals in concrete, its µγ increases. And by increasing the concentration of these minerals up to a certain value, its ability to attenuation the neutron beam is strengthened. Due to the presence of hydrogen atoms in the limonite structure, with the increase in the concentration of this mineral in the concrete shield, its µn always increases. But in galena and hematite shields, after the certain concentration of these minerals, not only their neutron attenuation ability is no longer increased, but also even decreases for galena samples. The sample G40 has the highest QF. To optimizing the weight of the shield, the comparison of QF/ρ values has been done and the results show that samples H40, H50, H60, G30, G40 and L30 have best QF/ρ value and they are suitable options to make the concrete radiation shield for various nuclear centers.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
