Design and development of heavy-weight cement-based composites with shielding properties
The research focuses on the development and optimization of heavyweight cement-based composites with enhanced protective performance for structures exposed to ionizing radiation. Typical applications include nuclear power plants, particle accelerators, and nuclear waste storage systems. These materials should provide effective radiation shielding, high mechanical and impact resistance, controlled thermal behavior in massive elements, low permeability, volumetric stability, and long-term durability. Achieving given requirements is closely linked to the chemical and mineralogical composition of raw materials, hydration heat evolution of cementitious binders, and the resulting composite microstructure. Research objectives • Granulometric optimization of heavyweight aggregates such as baryte, magnetite, cast iron, and their combinations. • Development of multicomponent binder systems incorporating supplementary cementitious materials to control hydration heat and improve performance. • Design of heavyweight (vibrated/self-compacting) concretes with adequate flowability and segregation resistance. • Optimization of fiber reinforcement to enhance crack control, energy absorption, post-cracking behavior, and ballistic resistance. • Evaluation of rheological, mechanical and durability-related properties of the composites.
