Determination of radiation attenuation coefficients of heavyweight- and normal-weight concretes containing colemanite and barite for 0.663 MeV γ-rays

Accurate measurements have been made to determine radiation transmission of concretes produced with barite, colemanite and normal aggregate by using beam transmission method for 0.663 MeV gamma-rays energy of Cs-137 radioactive isotopes by using Nal(Tl) scintillation detector. Linear and mass attenuation coefficients of thirteen heavy- and four normal-weight concretes were calculated. It was determined that the linear attenuation coefficient (mu, cm(-1)) decreased with colemanite concentration and increased with barite concentration in both type of the concretes. Mass attenuation coefficient values of our concretes were compared with the values proposed by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.