Prompt Gamma-Ray Analysis of Steel Slag in Concrete

Abstract

Blast furnace slag (BFS) is added to Portland cement concrete to increase its durability, particularly its corrosion resistance. Monitoring the concentration of BFS in concrete for quality control purposes is desired. In this study, the concentration of BFS in concrete was measured by utilizing an accelerator-based prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) setup. The optimum size of the BFS cement concrete specimen that produces the maximum intensity of gamma rays at the detector location was calculated through Monte Carlo simulations. The simulation results were experimentally validated through the gamma-ray yield measurement from BFS cement concrete specimens having different radii. The concentration of BFS in the cement concrete specimens was assessed through calcium and silicon gammaray yield measurement from cement concrete specimens containing 5 to 80 wt% BFS. The yield of calcium gamma rays decreases with increasing BFS concentration in concrete while the yield of silicon gamma rays increases with increasing BFS concentration in concrete. The calcium-to-silicon gamma-ray yield ratio has an inverse relation with BFS concentration in concrete.

Shielding Design for the PGNAA Experimental Facility at Kartini Reactor

“…This technique has some advantages compared with the traditional NAA, which works based on delayed gamma emitted by the activated nuclides, in terms that it can give result of examination more rapidly and without requiring irradiation process in reactor. These features have enabled to be used directly in the site of interest (in-situ) and in real time mode, such as those applied in several industries as in coal mining; cement industries, et cetera [1][2][3].…”