Evaluation of photon energy shielding and mechanical properties of concrete mixtures based on Tunisian barite: simulation and experimental findings

This study investigates the potential of barite (BaSO4) as a partial or total replacement for sand in concrete, aimed at enhancing its shielding properties against gamma radiation. Concrete samples with barite contents ranging from 0% to 25% were prepared and exposed to gamma rays from two sources: 60Co (1.173 MeV and 1.332 MeV) and 137Cs (0.662 MeV). Both experimental measurements and simulations using the MCNP Monte Carlo code were employed to estimate dose rates upstream and downstream the samples, enabling the evaluation of concrete's attenuation properties. The results indicate that the linear attenuation coefficient increased with barite content and varied depending on the gamma-ray energy. A barite-enhanced concrete mixture exhibited an 8% improvement in shielding efficiency, while all mixtures achieved a minimum compressive strength of 25 MPa. An empirical formula was developed to predict the shielding effectiveness of barite concrete, which was compared to existing literature.