Experimental study of foam concrete as a fire protection material and a material capable of absorbing γ-radiation

Abstract

Actuality. An analysis of accidents at nuclear power plants and power plants has shown that these incidents are accompanied by high temperatures and high-intensity radiation. In an emergency situation, the technological equipment of the protective shell must ensure the localisation of all radioactive materials released during the accident within its volume, protect the environment from ionising radiation, and counteract high temperature effects. Today, there are various forms and design solutions for protective shells, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, when choosing protective shell designs, it is necessary to take into account the conditions of construction, operation, and possible emergency impacts. Modern construction encourages the use of new materials such as foam concrete (aerated concrete), which will reduce material consumption and construction costs, as well as improve thermal and ionising protection. Purpose. The main objective of the article is to study the fire protection effectiveness of foam concrete and its γ-absorbing capacity. Main results. Two methods were developed for the research: to determine the fire-retardant properties of foam concrete and to determine the effectiveness of foam concrete in absorbing γ-radiation. It has been established that the fire resistance of foam concrete for steel structures ranges from 130 to 150 minutes for slab thicknesses from 20 mm to 60 mm, accordingly. Studies of the absorption of γ-radiation by foam concrete have shown that foam concrete with a bulk weight of 1200 kg/m³ has a γ-radiation attenuation coefficient similar to that of fine-grained concrete with graphite (with a bulk weight of 1800 kg/m³), which indicates its significant effectiveness (1,5 times). Conclusions. A series of experimental studies has shown that foam concrete is an effective fire-retardant material and can be used for fire protection of steel building structures. It was found that with a foam concrete thickness of 20-60 mm, the fire resistance limit of a steel structure in terms of load-bearing capacity is 130-150 minutes, and in terms of thermal insulation capacity – 80-150 minutes. The effectiveness of using foam concrete to protect technological equipment and its ability to absorb γ-radiation has been substantiated.