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J. Zhang¹, B. Pomaro¹, G. Mazzucco¹, B.F. Dongmo¹ C.E. Majorana¹ and V.A. Salomoni^1,2

¹Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Italy
²Department of Management and Engineering University of Padova, Vicenza, Italy

doi:10.4203/ccc.6.13.6

J. Zhang, B. Pomaro, G. Mazzucco, B.F. Dongmo, C.E. Majorana, V.A. Salomoni, "On the effects of aggregate sieving in the shielding and thermo-mechanical performance of concrete", in P. Ivanyi, J. Kruis, B.H.V. Topping, (Editors), "Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Computing", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 6, Paper 13.6, 2023, doi:10.4203/ccc.6.13.6

Keywords: thermo-mechanical, neutron diffusion, coupled problems, finite element, mesoscale modeling, irradiated concrete.

Abstract

In this paper, the influence of aggregate sieving and distribution on the shielding performance of concrete against nuclear radiation is investigated numerically. A thermomechanical and neutron diffusion coupled numerical formulation is proposed to address the specific problem related to irradiated concrete. This model solves the multiphysics problem by combining a two-group neutron diffusion theory, with the thermal conduction equation adapted to the radiation condition, and the mechanical equilibrium problem. Concrete is modeled at the mesoscale as a two-phase material, comprising mortar matrix and aggregates. Three grading curves of Fuller type are simulated, different for the nominal diameter size intervals of the polyhedral aggregates, which are randomly distributed within cubic samples of concrete composite material. A boron-rich material, colemanite, is utilized as aggregate in the numerical simulations. The results show that the fast neutron flux is not much influenced by the variation of the grading curves. On the other hand, a slight variation of the coarse aggregate volume fraction is found to affect to some extent the thermal flux. As regards temperature and stress distribution, it is noted the barrier effects that the inclusions bring to the state variable diffusion process.

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Front Page Browse CCC CCP CSETS CTR IJRT Other Authors Search Purchase Guide FAQ Contact us	Civil-Comp Conferences ISSN 2753-3239 CCC: 6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTEENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CIVIL, STRUCTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING COMPUTING Edited by: P. Ivanyi, J. Kruis and B.H.V. Topping Paper 13.6 On the effects of aggregate sieving in the shielding and thermo-mechanical performance of concrete J. Zhang¹, B. Pomaro¹, G. Mazzucco¹, B.F. Dongmo¹ C.E. Majorana¹ and V.A. Salomoni^1,2 ¹Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Italy ²Department of Management and Engineering University of Padova, Vicenza, Italy doi:10.4203/ccc.6.13.6 Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper J. Zhang, B. Pomaro, G. Mazzucco, B.F. Dongmo, C.E. Majorana, V.A. Salomoni, "On the effects of aggregate sieving in the shielding and thermo-mechanical performance of concrete", in P. Ivanyi, J. Kruis, B.H.V. Topping, (Editors), "Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Computing", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 6, Paper 13.6, 2023, doi:10.4203/ccc.6.13.6 Keywords: thermo-mechanical, neutron diffusion, coupled problems, finite element, mesoscale modeling, irradiated concrete. Abstract In this paper, the influence of aggregate sieving and distribution on the shielding performance of concrete against nuclear radiation is investigated numerically. A thermomechanical and neutron diffusion coupled numerical formulation is proposed to address the specific problem related to irradiated concrete. This model solves the multiphysics problem by combining a two-group neutron diffusion theory, with the thermal conduction equation adapted to the radiation condition, and the mechanical equilibrium problem. Concrete is modeled at the mesoscale as a two-phase material, comprising mortar matrix and aggregates. Three grading curves of Fuller type are simulated, different for the nominal diameter size intervals of the polyhedral aggregates, which are randomly distributed within cubic samples of concrete composite material. A boron-rich material, colemanite, is utilized as aggregate in the numerical simulations. The results show that the fast neutron flux is not much influenced by the variation of the grading curves. On the other hand, a slight variation of the coarse aggregate volume fraction is found to affect to some extent the thermal flux. As regards temperature and stress distribution, it is noted the barrier effects that the inclusions bring to the state variable diffusion process. download the full-text of this paper (PDF, 10 pages, 953 Kb) go to the previous paper go to the next paper return to the table of contents return to the volume description
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