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In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of wet mix shotcrete produced using crushed stone aggregate (CS), ferrochrome slag aggregate (FS), and barite (B) aggregate have been investigated. Furthermore, the radiation shielding properties have been determined experimentally, theoretically, and through simulation. A control sample was produced using 50 % CS and 50 % FS. Subsequently, shotcrete groups were produced by substituting B aggregate at replacement rates of 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % instead of FS. The mechanical properties such as density, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strength of the produced spray concrete groups were investigated. Additionally, experimental radiation shielding measurements were conducted using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector system with emissions from four different radioactive sources (133Ba, 137Cs, 60Co, and 22Na) spanning nine different gamma energies ranging from 276.5 to 1332.5 keV. As a result of the experimental measurements, the linear attenuation coefficients (μ) of the shotcrete samples were obtained. A proportional increase in μ was determined with increasing barite content. Using the experimental mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) results, half-value layer (HVL) and tenth-value layer (TVL) thicknesses, as well as mean free path (MFP) values, were calculated. An increasing B aggregate ratio did not have a significant effect on the μ/ρ value, while an increase was observed in the HVL, TVL, and MFP values. Moreover, the WinXCOM interface was employed for theoretical calculations, and the FLUKA Monte Carlo code was utilized for simulation calculations. The obtained data were compared with experimental results, revealing a good agreement between them. Based on the obtained data, it was concluded that increasing the B aggregate ratio resulted in improvement in mechanical properties compared to the control sample, and additionally, it was determined that B aggregate-added shotcrete is an effective gamma radiation shielding material. • Wet mix shotcrete with barite admixture was produced. • Physical, mechanical and durability properties were analyzed. • Experimental, theoretical and simulation methods were used. • Sample B100 has the best gamma radiation shielding properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we fabricated a series of six glasses to be utilized in the field of radiation shielding application. Glasses have been synthesized using a melt-quenching ordinary technique. In this work, we investigated the structural properties of these glasses using Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, optical properties have been studied in the present work. The radiation attenuation ability for the present samples was also investigated and measured using transmission geometry between 81 and 964.1 keV. The mass attenuation coefficient was measured and the results were validated by the WinXcom program. Also, radiation protection efficiency (RPE) was evaluated and discussed in terms of photon energy and Bi 2 O 3 concentration. From RPE curve, we found that the fabricated glasses can be used as effective shielding materials especially for the low energies (81–383 keV). The half value layer also was calculated and the results of this parameter showed that S6 (contains 60 mol% of Bi 2 O 3) has the higher probability of the interaction with gamma photons, leading to less number of photons transmitted this sample and thus better photon attenuator. • B 2 O 3 –10ZnO–10MgO-xBi 2 O 3 glasses. • Theoretical and experimental validation Radiation shielding characteristics of synthesized glasses have been investigated. • Raman spectroscopy of glasses. • Optical band gap of fabricated glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]