NSUF 15-546: Irradiation Effects on Structure and Properties of LWR Concrete
The long-term stability and performance of Portland cement concrete in nuclear power plants is of concern, as little operational or experimental data exist to aid regulators in extending operating licenses. More complete knowledge of performance in radiation environments will determine concrete’s role in setting the upper limits for lifetime extensions. In the proposed project, concrete, aggregate, and paste samples will be irradiated with energetic protons to simulate radiation damage. A combination of nanoindentation and microhardness techniques will be used to determine the possible reduction in mechanical properties as a function of radiation exposure. Novel non-destructive testing will be used to correlate acoustic and optical properties to any measured hardness changes. This data will be further compared to volatile species evolution during the irradiation. Collected results can be used to determine possible radiation induced degradation in the current fleet, as well as aid in developing radiation tolerant concrete recipes for future plants and storage containers. The proposed work would occur over two 4 day sessions; the first session to occur late April or early May, while the second session occurring ~8 weeks later. A two session approach is necessary as such limited data exists on the radiation response of concrete, particularly in vacuum. Irradiated samples from the first session would be immediately characterized, allowing for a more targeted approach for the second session. In addition to elucidating the radiation tolerance of concrete, the investigation will develop protocol for future irradiations of hydrated materials.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | The long-term stability and performance of Portland cement concrete in nuclear power plants is of concern, as little operational or experimental data exist to aid regulators in extending operating licenses. More complete knowledge of performance in radiation environments will determine concrete’s role in setting the upper limits for lifetime extensions. In the proposed project, concrete, aggregate, and paste samples will be irradiated with energetic protons to simulate radiation damage. A combination of nanoindentation and microhardness techniques will be used to determine the possible reduction in mechanical properties as a function of radiation exposure. Novel non-destructive testing will be used to correlate acoustic and optical properties to any measured hardness changes. This data will be further compared to volatile species evolution during the irradiation. Collected results can be used to determine possible radiation induced degradation in the current fleet, as well as aid in developing radiation tolerant concrete recipes for future plants and storage containers. The proposed work would occur over two 4 day sessions; the first session to occur late April or early May, while the second session occurring ~8 weeks later. A two session approach is necessary as such limited data exists on the radiation response of concrete, particularly in vacuum. Irradiated samples from the first session would be immediately characterized, allowing for a more targeted approach for the second session. In addition to elucidating the radiation tolerance of concrete, the investigation will develop protocol for future irradiations of hydrated materials. |
| Award Announced Date | 2015-04-22T00:00:00 |
| Awarded Institution | Idaho National Laboratory |
| Facility | Advanced Test Reactor |
| Facility Tech Lead | Alina Zackrone, Kumar Sridharan |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Chris Wetteland |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | RTE |
| RTE Number | 546 |