Evaluating the performance of black sand products on the linear attenuation coefficient in heavyweight concrete

Black sand, spanning approximately 400 km and exceeding one million cubic meters in volume, can be found along Egypt's Mediterranean coast. For every ton of steel produced, approximately 20 % of steel slag waste is generated, posing a significant environmental challenge. The study aimed to use black sand and steel slag products to produce eco-friendly radiation-shielding heavyweight concrete. The experimental program, fourteen mixtures were prepared. Two mixtures, one of natural aggregate and the other of electrical furnace steel slag (EAFSS), and twelve mixtures divided into four groups of magnetite, ilmenite, hematite, and steel, used as powder at a ratio of 10 %, 20 %, and 30 % by weight of cement 550 kg/m³ , respectively. The slump test, concrete density, compression and tensile strength (fts) test, linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), ultrasonic, and microstructure were tested. The attenuation coefficient was affected by magnetite, hematite, ilmenite, and steel powder. Sample M30, which contains 30 % magnetite powder, showed the higher shielding capacity 0.1511 cm⁻¹ compared to all samples. The HVL values were reduced when 30 % magnetite, hematite, ilmenite, and steel powder were utilized. Black sand products effectively enhance the radiation resistance capacity of concrete.