Evaluation of mechanical strength, gamma-ray shielding characteristics, and ITZ microstructural properties of heavyweight concrete using nano-silica (SiO2) and barite aggregates.

This research assessed the mechanical performance, gamma-ray shielding, and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) microstructural properties of concrete mixes that incorporate barite coarse aggregates and nanosilica. To achieve this goal, several concrete mixes containing normal coarse aggregate (NC), barite aggregate (BC), and nano-silica/barite aggregates (NSBC) were fabricated. Several properties such as workability, mechanical strength, electrical resistivity (ER), ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), chloride migration (RCPT), and gamma shielding were comparatively assessed for these concrete mixtures. In addition, analytical characterizations viz., x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) were employed to study the ITZ microstructure at mortar/aggregate interface of concrete mixtures. The results showed that barite concrete incorporating nanosilica (NSBC) exhibited higher density and improved mechanical properties compared to both normal concrete (NC) and barite concrete (BC). Specifically, concrete mixture containing barite aggregate and 3% nanosilica (3NSBC) content exhibited improved impermeability and reduced concrete porosity. The gamma-ray shielding properties for 3NSBC were superior among all concrete mixtures. After 28 days, 3NSBC exhibits higher compressive strength (18.26% and 14.76%) and greater shielding capacity (12.82% and 6.66%) compared to NC and BC, respectively. The analytical characterizations results have demonstrated that nanosilica helps prevent the accumulation of calcium hydroxide in the ITZ by utilizing it to form calcium silicate hydrate. This leads to the development of a more compact and denser microstructure in the ITZ of nano-silica-based barite concrete (NSBC). Furthermore, it was revealed that, the incorporation of nanosilica exceeding 3% led to agglomeration, resulting in a weaker ITZ within the concrete leading to overall reduction in concrete properties. • Fabricated normal (NC) and heavyweight concrete with/without nanosilica (NSBC and BC). • ITZ microstructure analyzed using SEM/EDX, XRD, and FTIR. • NSBC showed improved physical and mechanical properties. • Exceptional nuclear shielding performance observed for NSBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]