Dynamic Material Testing of Aged Concrete Cores From the Outer Wall of the High-Flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor

• Published in: Journal of nuclear fuel cycle and waste technology (Online) Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 139 - 144
• Main Authors: Lim, JaeHoon, Park, Byoungsun, Lim, Jongmin, Yang, Yun-Young, Lee, Sung-Hyo, Cho, Sang Soon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국방사성폐기물학회 01.06.2024
• Subjects: 원자력공학; Dry storage system; Dynamic material properties; Concrete structures; Deterioration
• ISSN: 1738-1894; 2288-5471
• DOI: 10.7733/jnfcwt.2024.018

Concrete structures must maintain their shielding abilities and structural integrity over extended operational periods. Despite the widespread use of dry storage systems for spent nuclear fuel, research on the properties of deteriorated concrete and their impact on structural performance remains limited. To address this significant research gap, static and dynamic material testing was conducted on concrete specimens carefully extracted from the outer wall of the High-flux Advanced Neutron Application ReactOr (HANARO), constructed approximately 30 years ago. Despite its age, the results reveal that the concrete maintains its structural integrity impressively well, with static compression tests indicating an average compressive strength exceeding the original design standards. Further dynamic property testing using advanced high-speed material test equipment supported these findings, showing the consistency of dynamic increase factors with those reported in previous studies. These results highlight the importance of monitoring and assessing concrete structures in nuclear facilities for long-term safety and reliability.