Assessment of radiation shielding properties for some concrete mixtures against photon and neutron radiations

Abstract

This study evaluates fifteen concrete formulations, including standard and hybrid types such as Barite, Iron-Limonite, and Luminite-Colemanite-Barite, to determine their effectiveness in shielding against photon rays and neutrons. Using computational tools like MCNP, Phy-X, and XCOM, key shielding parameters were analyzed, including the Mass Attenuation Coefficient, Half-Value Layer, Mean Free Path, Fast Neutron Removal Cross Section, and Neutron Transmittance. In photon shielding, Iron-Portland concrete demonstrated superior performance, achieving the lowest Half-Value Layer (HVL) of 2.244 cm at 1.33 MeV, which is 42% better than Ordinary concrete and 57% better than Barite concrete. Iron-Limonite also showed strong photon attenuation with a Mean Free Path (MFP) of 3.23 cm at 1.33 MeV. For neutron shielding, Iron-Limonite and Ferro-phosphorus concrete recorded the highest Fast Neutron Removal Cross Section (FNRCS) values, reaching up to 0.146 cm⁻ 1 , indicating their strong capability to attenuate fast neutrons. Additionally, hybrid concretes like Luminite-Colemanite-Barite provided balanced protection against both photon and neutron radiation. This study highlights the effectiveness of high-density concretes in radiation shielding and underscores the alignment between deterministic and stochastic computational tools used, reinforcing their applicability in enhancing radiation safety. • The study assessed fifteen concrete formulations for shielding effectiveness against photons and neutrons. • Iron-Portland concrete had the best photon attenuation with an HVL of 2.244 cm at 1.33 MeV. • Iron-Limonite and Ferro-phosphorus concrete excelled in neutron attenuation with the highest FNRCS values. • Consistency between MCNP, Phy-X, and XCOM tools validated the accuracy of the shielding evaluations.