NSUF 16-821: Changes on viscoelastic behavior, morphology and chemical structure of gamma irradiated calcium silicate hydrates with respect to non-irradiated samples

The proposed project objectives are to study the changes in viscoelastic behavior and chemical structure and morphology of calcium silicate hydrates after gamma irradiation. The chemical structural changes will be studied with x-ray diffraction. Morphology and compositional changes will be examined with TEM. Viscoelastic properties will be obtained through stress relaxation nanoindentation experiments. Calcium silicate hydrates are considered the glue of cement and hence are important for the stability of the concrete bio-shield in nuclear power plants. The impact of high gamma doses on the viscoelastic properties of calcium silicate hydrates is not known. These experiments will be a first approach to study this impact at a medium dose (0.64 MGy) to inform mechanical models that predict the degradation of cement and concrete with irradiation, and there are plans to extend the same kind of experiments for higher doses up to ~ 2MGy. The samples will be available in 4 months, and the experiments will be finished in 2 sessions of 5 days each.

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Abstract The proposed project objectives are to study the changes in viscoelastic behavior and chemical structure and morphology of calcium silicate hydrates after gamma irradiation. The chemical structural changes will be studied with x-ray diffraction. Morphology and compositional changes will be examined with TEM. Viscoelastic properties will be obtained through stress relaxation nanoindentation experiments. Calcium silicate hydrates are considered the glue of cement and hence are important for the stability of the concrete bio-shield in nuclear power plants. The impact of high gamma doses on the viscoelastic properties of calcium silicate hydrates is not known. These experiments will be a first approach to study this impact at a medium dose (0.64 MGy) to inform mechanical models that predict the degradation of cement and concrete with irradiation, and there are plans to extend the same kind of experiments for higher doses up to ~ 2MGy. The samples will be available in 4 months, and the experiments will be finished in 2 sessions of 5 days each.
Award Announced Date 2016-12-16T07:46:43.74
Awarded Institution None
Facility None
Facility Tech Lead Kory Linton
Irradiation Facility None
PI Elena Tajuelo Rodriguez
PI Email [email protected]
Project Type RTE
RTE Number 821