Recent developments of radiation shielding concrete in nuclear and radioactive waste storage facilities – A state of the art review

Concrete - known for its inert properties - plays a pivotal role in nuclear and radioactive waste storage, providing a robust barrier against radiation. Blended concrete made up of composite materials, namely, barite or magnetite, was recently employed as radiation shielding concrete (RSC). This survey provides a detailed study of different RSC materials suitable for radiation shielding. This review critically evaluates the efficiency of RSC in terms of shielding performance, hardening characteristics, and serviceability, and it also provides a holistic perspective on the latest advancements in this field. Additionally, this work thoroughly examines the recent progress to gain a comprehensive grasp of the functionality potential of RSC as an innovative building material for creating a durable and environmentally friendly concrete matrix for radiation protection. Finally, this survey highlights current knowledge gaps and future research directions in this critical area of research.