Session: 05-04: Investigations of Cement Based Materials and Waste Matrices

Paper Number: 110219

110219 - Experimental Investigation of Aged Concrete From Ukraine Nuclear Plant 

The various forms of cement and concrete are the most common materials used in the nuclear

field because they are strong, durable, inexpensive, and shield radiation well. However, the porous nature of prepared cements and the ever-present water in them may often result in the incorporation and retention of some radioactive species, especially tritiated water, which could be subsequently released into the environment.

This study is aimed to investigate the effects and threats posed to the nuclear facility and/or repository where radioactive wastes (RWs, including SNF) are and must be stored.

Concrete represents the primary barrier to migration in many proposed low-level waste storage facilities. While it may retard some dissolved ions to varying extent, it is not clear to what extent tritium movement through concrete would take place over longer periods. The breaking of concrete atomic bonds is so responsible of the degradation of the concrete (i.e., modification of its structural and mechanical properties).

The experimental characterization to determine physical-chemical properties of aged concrete (samples are from the vault of Kyiv RAW facility in Ukraine exposed during almost 60 years in semi-natural conditions) was performed by means of Electronic Scanning Microscope, X-Ray diffraction, and other novel chemical and physical methods that are available at UNIPI.

Presenting Author: Rosa Lo Frano DICI - University of Pisa

Presenting Author Biography: Rosa Lo Frano graduated in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Pisa in 2004 while in 2008 got the Ph.D Degree in Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Safety. Currently she is appointed Full Professor in Nuclear Plant at the University of Pisa.
Since 2007, she is teaching at the MSc in Nuclear Engineering the courses of Mech., Chem. and Nuclear Engineering Design, Design of Complex and Nuclear Plants, Decommissioning, Nuclear Code (FEM module) and Structural Mechanics.
The research activity refers mainly the safety and design issues of the nuclear installations and its main components, the structural integrity against external events, ageing, the transport of radioactive materials in normal and accident conditions, the safety of RWs repository, etc.
She was/is the scientific referees for projects and contracts at national and international level, such as the AdP MSE-ENEA 2008-18, EU FP7 LEADER, EU FP7 PETRUS III, H2020 NARSIS, H2020 ENEN Plus, H2020 PREDIS, IGD-TP, etc..