The radiation-induced volumetric expansion (RIVE) of aggregate-forming minerals causes damage in concrete exposed to high levels of fast neutrons fluence ( $$>\,\sim \,10^{19}\, \hbox {n}\,\hbox {cm}^{-2}$$ > ∼ 10 19 n cm - 2 at kinetics energy above 0.1 MeV). Historical post-irradiation RIVE and Young’s modulus data obtained in test reactors were revisited using a polycrystalline homogenization model (self-consistent scheme) accounting for the aggregates’ minerals content and the formation of voids/cracks during irradiation. It was found that the formation of extra voids/cracks can contribute to the aggregate expansion more substantially than the cumulated expansions of aggregate-forming minerals. The rate of void creation appears to be inversely correlated to the silica content, although aggregates of higher silicate contents exhibit higher RIVEs. The loss of Young’s modulus decreases exponentially with the aggregates’ expansion. At a comparable RIVE level, the relative loss of modulus is more significant in aggregates of higher silica content.

中文翻译：

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混凝土成型骨料的辐照损伤：通过微观力学重新审视文献数据

集料形成矿物的辐射引起的体积膨胀 (RIVE) 会导致暴露于高水平快中子注量 ($$>\,\sim\,10^{19}\,\hbox {n}\, \hbox {cm}^{-2}$$ > ∼ 10 19 n cm - 2 动能高于 0.1 MeV）。使用多晶均质化模型（自洽方案）重新审视了在测试反应器中获得的历史辐照后 RIVE 和杨氏模量数据，该模型考虑了辐照过程中聚集体的矿物质含量和空隙/裂缝的形成。发现额外空隙/裂缝的形成可以比形成骨料的矿物的累积膨胀更显着地促进骨料膨胀。空隙产生的速度似乎与二氧化硅含量成反比，尽管较高硅酸盐含量的聚集体表现出较高的 RIVE。杨氏模量的损失随着聚集体的膨胀呈指数下降。在可比较的 RIVE 水平上，模量的相对损失在二氧化硅含量较高的聚集体中更为显着。