ISSN: 0149-6123
CODEN: CCAGPD
Page Count: 7

The Application of Neutron Radiography to the Study of Microcracking in Concrete
Aderhold, HC
Reactor supervisor, Ward Laboratory of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Cornell University, NY

Hover, KC
Graduate research assistant and Ph.D. candidate, and associate professor, Cornell University, NY

Najjar, WS
Graduate research assistant and Ph.D. candidate, and associate professor, Cornell University, NY

Abstract

Radiography of concrete specimens using a neutron flux as the penetrating radiation has been used to identify and study microcracking. The key to the technique is the partial impregnation of the microcracks with a medium with a high neutron attenuation capacity, so as to result in a sharp contrast between the cracks and the surrounding solid mass. Gadolinium has been used as the neutron-attenuating contrast agent, which is applied in the form of an aqueous solution of gadolinium nitrate.

The resulting radiographs are compared with more conventional X-ray studies of the same specimens. Neutron radiography appears to be more effective than X-radiography for the identification of cracking.

Keywords:
concretes, cracking (fracturing), fractures (materials), microcracking, neutron radiography, X-radiography

Paper ID: CCA10063J
DOI: 10.1520/CCA10063J
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