Investigation of radiation shielding properties and determination of radioactivity levels in Balikesir sarimsakli stone

In this thesis study, the natural radioactivity levels and radiation shielding potentials of two types of natural stones used as construction materials, Balıkesir Sarımsaklı Stone and Ahlat Stone, from different regions were investigated. In the first stage of the study, the natural radioactivity levels of the area where Sarımsaklı Stone was obtained, specifically from the Badavut region, were determined using gamma spectrometry with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector, and a radioactivity map of the region was created based on the collected data. Subsequently, powder forms of both Sarımsaklı and Ahlat Stones were added to concrete mixtures at specific proportions (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) to prepare samples. The mechanical properties and gamma radiation shielding performances of these samples were then evaluated. Through this research, comprehensive data on the radiation shielding capacities of natural stones were obtained, aiming to contribute to the fields of construction materials and radiation protection.