Designing Better Concrete for SMRs

ASME reports a research strand that is strategic for the SMR sector: an ultra-high-performance concrete, DT-RS-UHPC (Damage-Tolerant Radiation-Shielding Ultra-High-Performance Concrete), led by Ousmane Hisseine, assistant professor of civil engineering at McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario), with funding from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

The goal is compressive strengths of 120–150 MPa, nearly double today’s high-performance concretes (60–80 MPa), while reducing interstitial voids to maximise radiation attenuation at smaller thicknesses than current standards: up to 1 metre for containment domes, 75 cm for storage-cask inserts. The main technical challenge is to balance shielding additives, such as high-iron ironsands, against thermal stability above 1000°C while preserving the material’s strength and durability.

For clients active in SMR component design or certification, this material development is a potential future reference for shielding and containment requirements, with direct implications for the applicable construction and safety standards. ASME confirms its commitment to the sector through its portfolio dedicated to SMRs and advanced reactors, which 3HCSI monitors for related regulatory developments.