Investigation of gamma ray shielding efficiency and physicomechanical performances of heavyweight concrete subjected to high temperature

Abstract The results of durability investigation of two heavyweight concretes containing barite and magnetite aggregates are presented in the paper. The concretes, designed for gamma-ray shielding, were subjected to high temperature from the range of 300–800 °C. The effect of temperature on the mass, apparent density, compressive strength, coefficient of gamma-ray absorption and the superficial changes in the structure of the tested specimens were evaluated. The results of testing were compared to the results obtained for the specimens made from the ordinary concrete containing natural aggregate. The influence of temperature on the linear attenuation coefficient has been observed, as well as the strong relation between occurring of the superficial defects in the structure and the properties of the aggregate under high temperature.