摘要
Different types of concrete have different compositions and therefore may exhibit greatly different shielding performances. This study systematically and quantitatively analyzed this problem by numerically simulating 26 types of concrete used as a shield against the radiation fields induced by three accelerators: an 18-MeV proton cyclotron for radioisotope production, a 250-MeV proton therapy machine, and a 400-MeV/u carbon-ion therapy machine. The results were compiled and explored from various perspectives to identify correlations with concrete properties such as density, average atomic number, hydrogen content, and heavy metal content. Among these properties, density was found to be optimal predictor of dose attenuation length in concrete. Best-fit parameters were determined for three accelerator radiation fields in the forward and lateral directions. The data present in this study can be used to quantify the effect of uncertainty in the modeling of concrete composition in shielding calculations.
•26 types of concrete used as a shield against the radiation fields induced by three accelerators were investigated.•Dose attenuation lengths of concrete were analyzed for correlations with various concrete properties.•Results can be used to quantify the effect of uncertainty in modeling concrete composition in shielding calculations.