Experimental study of the effect of radiation exposure to concrete

Fujiwara, Kazushige*; Ito, Masanobu*; Sasanuma, Miwa*; Tanaka, Hideo*; Hirotani, Kiyoshi*; Onizawa, Kunio ; Suzuki, Masahide; Amezawa, Hiroo*

Concerns over aged nuclear power stations are mounting in Japan today. However, there exists only a small number of experimental studies regarding the effect of radiation exposure to concrete. We have consequently conducted an irradiation test at JMTR on concrete specimens to confirm the effect of radiation exposure on the basic material properties of concrete. Irradiation temperature was kept lower than 65C. The maximum fast neutron fluence reached 1210 n/cm (E 0.1 MeV), which is sufficiently exceeding total fast neutron fluence to be exposed to the concrete located at the exterior of a reactor pressure vessel in a typical BWR for 60-year operation. Compressive strength of the irradiated concrete specimens was roughly equivalent to that of concrete specimens cured for the same duration under the standard environment. By measuring chemically bound water content of irradiated specimens, no changes after irradiation were observed. It was confirmed that radiation exposure did not significantly affect the basic material properties of concrete within the range of radiation doses adopted in this study.