Determination of the performance of high density wet shotcrete containing ferrochrome slag

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using ferrochrome, barite, siderite, and iron-manganese aggregates in shotcrete production and to explore their potential applications beyond current usage. Based on preliminary experiments established a control group with a 50% combination of crushed stone and ferrochrome. The water-cement ratio was set at 0.45, with 450 kg/m³ of cement, and a 4% dosage of setting accelerator was determined relative to the cement content. During production, concrete types were manufactured by replacing barite (B), siderite (S), and iron-manganese (DM) aggregates with ferrochrome at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% ratios. Shotcrete specimens were evaluated for their physical, mechanical, durability, and radiation shielding performance. Radiation shielding performance was determined using 133Ba, 137Cs, 60Co and 22Na radioactive point sources, energies (ranging from 276.5 keV to 1332.5 keV) and a high purity germanium HPGe detector system. WinXCOM interface was employed for theoretical calculations, while the FLUKA Monte Carlo code was utilized for simulation calculations, and the obtained data were compared. Aggregate utilization in shotcrete was found to enhance physical, mechanical, durability, and radiation shielding parameters. Among shotcrete concrete groups, samples with barite additives demonstrated superior physical, mechanical, and durability characteristics. In terms of radiation shielding, all groups performed well compared to the control, with barite > siderite > iron-manganese ranking. As a result of all experimental analyses, the best physical, mechanical and durability properties were obtained in the barite reinforced shotcrete sample B100. Additionally, shotcrete concrete with barite additives exhibited optimal gamma radiation shielding, while iron-manganese additives showed superior neutron shielding. Consequently, shotcrete concrete incorporating barite, siderite, and iron-manganese additives presents a viable option for effective radiation shielding applications.