Irradiation-induced damage in concrete-forming aggregates: revisiting literature data through micromechanics

Y. Le Pape, J. Sanahuja, M. H.F. Alsaid

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

The radiation-induced volumetric expansion (RIVE) of aggregate-forming minerals causes damage in concrete exposed to high levels of fast neutrons fluence (>∼1019ncm-2 at kinetics energy above 0.1 MeV). Historical post-irradiation RIVE and Young’s modulus data obtained in test reactors were revisited using a polycrystalline homogenization model (self-consistent scheme) accounting for the aggregates’ minerals content and the formation of voids/cracks during irradiation. It was found that the formation of extra voids/cracks can contribute to the aggregate expansion more substantially than the cumulated expansions of aggregate-forming minerals. The rate of void creation appears to be inversely correlated to the silica content, although aggregates of higher silicate contents exhibit higher RIVEs. The loss of Young’s modulus decreases exponentially with the aggregates’ expansion. At a comparable RIVE level, the relative loss of modulus is more significant in aggregates of higher silica content.

Original languageEnglish
Article number62
JournalMaterials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions
Volume53
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2020

Funding

Notice of Copyright This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan). This work is supported by the US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program under contract number DE-AC05-00OR22725.

Keywords

  • Irradiated concrete
  • Polycrystalline model
  • Radiation-induced volumetric expansion
  • Rock-forming minerals properties

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