Performance of heavy weight concrete incorporating recycled rice straw ash as radiation shielding material

Abstract Several attempts have been made to improve the heavy weight concrete mechanical properties for radiation shielding, good workability, high durability, moderate compressive and high tensile strengths, high crack resistance, low permeability, and low shrinkage. In this study, six mixes were organized using coarse and fine aggregate of magnetite with a replacement of cement 15% rice straw ash, 3% polyethylene, 0.3% boric acid, 3% Nano silica, and high range water reducer. All mixes ensured a W/C ratio of 0.4 and cement of 440 kg/m3. The research investigates the fresh properties and mechanical properties of heavy weight concrete. Experimental results appeared that the magnetite aggregate mix with 3% polyethylene improved the mechanical properties than the similar concrete mixes, however, the compressive strength of magnetite with 15% rice straw ash was higher than magnetite with 3% polyethylene as cement replacement materials. Therefore, magnetite incorporating 3% polyethylene enhances the heavy weight concrete mechanical properties for radiation shielding. This study has found that generally, the magnetite incorporating 3% polyethylene is the optimum concrete mix for radiation shielding.