Radiation Shielding Performance of Different Concrete Materials: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This systematic review compares the radiation shielding performance of various concrete formulations, highlighting the influence of density, microstructure, and additives, and discusses emerging lightweight and eco-friendly options.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive comparison of recent concrete formulations for radiation shielding, emphasizing the effects of composition and introducing innovative materials like UHPCs and nano-concretes.

Findings

Shielding efficiency depends on density and microstructure.

Heavy and boron-rich additives improve performance.

Emerging lightweight concretes offer durable, eco-friendly options.

Abstract

Background: Concrete is one of the most-used material today in nuclear, medical, and industrial applications for radiation shielding due to its economic advantages and availability together with its structural performance. However, differences in the use of aggregates, density, and other additives affect radiation attenuation efficiency. It is therefore necessary to understand and compare shielding properties of various concrete formulations for the optimization of safety and performance in radiation-prone environments. Methods: Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a literature search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. 17 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025 were analysed systematically. Data was extracted based on material composition, density, radiation type, energy range, attenuation coefficients, and shielding efficiency. The obtained results were compared to find the trend in performance and optimization of the considered materials. Conclusion: Radiation shielding efficiency of concrete is dependent on its density, microstructural characteristics and type of aggregate. For superior performance in a mixed radiation field, Heavy and boron-rich additives can be added. Newly developed UHPCs and nano-engineered concretes are lightweight, durable, and environmentally friendly options for shielding materials compared to traditional ones. Further studies are needed to focus on the standardization of test methods, validation of long-term stability, and coupling computational modelling with experimental data in order to guide material design for applications featuring enhanced radiation shielding.