Title:
Use of Radioactive Reinforcement in the Construction of Concrete Bridges
Author(s):
Peter Paulik, Michal Panik, and Vladimír Necas
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
289
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
1-11
Keywords:
radioactive reinforcement; concrete bridges, decommissioning, very low level radioactive waste
DOI:
10.14359/51684281
Date:
9/14/2012
Abstract:
Nowadays, many nuclear power plants are approaching their designed lifetime and the question of their decommissioning is being increasingly discussed. In connection with the dismantling of the nuclear facilities large quantities of typical decommissioning waste material are produced. Among this waste material, there is a significant amount of radioactive steel. Its level of radioactivity just slightly exceeds the regulatory limits set for unconditional release into the environment and, moreover, contains radionuclides with relatively short half-life. Disposal of all this kind of steel in specialized repositories would require considerable financial investments. Therefore, re-melting and reuse of this steel in the construction of bridges seems like an advantageous alternative. The article deals particularly with the possibilities of using slightly radioactive steel in concrete bridges construction and the risks related to this issue.