Recently, a research team from the University of Tokyo has managed to discover how neutron radiation can affect the structure of concrete in nuclear power plants and possible solutions to these architectural flaws.
Radiation in concrete and its impact on structures
The study has shown that concrete, a material used in the construction of nuclear reactors, can experience expansion and repair as it is exposed to different levels of radiation, which could have implications for the safety and longevity of nuclear facilities.
This research focused on how quartz crystals, present in the concrete used in the construction of reactors, react when exposed to neutrons . Although it is known that radiation can affect the structural integrity of this material, until now the details of how this process occurs were not completely clear. Researchers have discovered that the expansion of quartz increases when the radiation rate is higher, but what is surprising is that this expansion decreases over time as the crystals repair themselves, a phenomenon never before observed.
Professor Ippei Maruyama, who leads the research team, said quartz can undergo structural distortion that could, over time, be reversed, reducing concerns about the degradation of concrete in nuclear reactors.
According to Maruyama, larger quartz grains in concrete show less expansion, suggesting that crystal size has a direct impact on how the material responds to radiation. This could allow engineers to fine-tune concrete mixes based on the specific needs of each reactor.
Based on these new findings, the University of Tokyo team has put forward a more optimistic outlook on the durability of concrete in nuclear reactors. The self-healing ability of quartz could allow some nuclear facilities to continue operating for longer than originally planned, improving the reliability of these complex systems.
Maruyama’s team plans to continue exploring how different minerals in concrete respond to radiation and what specific expansion and healing mechanisms are involved. Additionally, it will focus on predicting how cracks might form based on the expansion of the minerals, which could help design stronger, more durable structures.
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Source and photos: UTokyo
