The dissolution of the Soviet Union coupled with the growing sophistication of international terror organizations has brought about a desire to ensure that a sound infrastructure exists to interdict smuggled nuclear material prior to leaving its country of origin. To combat the threat of nuclear trafficking, radiation portal monitors (RPMs) are deployed around the world to intercept illicit material while in transit by passively detecting gamma and neutron radiation. Portal monitors in some locations have reported abnormally high gamma background count rates. The higher background data has been attributed, in part, to the concrete surrounding the portal monitors. Higher background can ultimately lead to more material passing through the RPMs undetected. This work is focused on understanding the influence of the concrete surrounding the monitors on the total gamma ray background for the system. This research employed a combination of destructive and nondestructive analytical techniques with computer simulations to form a model that may be adapted to any RPM configuration. Six samples were taken from three different composition concrete slabs. The natural radiologcal background of these samples was determined using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector in conjunction with the Canberra In-Situ Object Counting System (ISOCS™) and Genie™ 2000 software packages. The composition of each sample was determined using thermal and fast neutron activation analysis (NAA) techniques. The results from these experiments were incorporated into a Monte Carlo N-Particle (MNCP) photon transport simulation to determine the expected gamma ray count rate in the RPM due to the concrete. The results indicate that a quantitative estimate may be possible if the experimental conditions are optimized to eliminate sources of uncertainty. Comparisons of actual and simulated count rate data for 137Cs check sources showed that the model was accurate to within 15%. A comparison of estimated and simulated count rates in one concrete slab showed that the model was accurate to within 4%. Subsequent sensitivity analysis showed that if the elemental concentrations are well known, the carbon and hydrogen content could be easily estimated. Another sensitivity analysis revealed that the small fluctuations in density have a minimal impact on the gamma count rate. The research described by this thesis provides a method by which RPM end users may quantitatively estimate the expected gamma background from concrete foundations beneath the systems. This allows customers to adjust alarm thresholds to compensate for the elevated background due to the concrete, thereby increasing the probability of intercepting illicit radiological and nuclear material.

I Sverige produceras varje år grovt uppskattat ca. 1,5–2,0 miljoner m2 industrigolv av betong [1]. Resultaten är varierande och det vanligaste felet hos dessa golv är sprickor [2]. I sprickorna letar sig vatten och i vissa fall klorider ned och förorsakar armeringskorrosion. Armeringen expanderar pga. korrosionen och spränger sönder betongen. Golvet blir inte längre estetiskt tilltalande samtidigt som livslängden förkortas avsevärt och golvytan blir ojämn vilket försvårar eventuell trucktrafik. Sprickor uppkommer främst pga. tvångskrafter som uppstår när betongen krymper. Storleken på sprickorna avgörs av betongens benägenhet att krympa, armerings-innehåll och graden av tvång. DynaMate som bygger och underhåller Scanias serviceverkstäder och industrilokaler upplever stora problem med sprickbildning hos industrigolven. Sprickorna medför stora kostnader i form av driftstopp, rivning, reparation och eventuell nyproduktion [3]. Föreliggande rapport baseras framförallt på litteraturstudier utifrån en rad rapporter, artiklar och handböcker men även normer. Intervjuer har genomförts med sakkunniga personer för att ta del av deras erfarenheter och åsikter. För att även få bättre insikt i utförandeskedet har författarna närvarat vid två olika gjutningar av industrigolv. För att minska sprickrisken i betonggolv, orsakad av betongens fria krympning, krävs en betongsammansättning som minimerar den fria krympningen, ett armeringsinnehåll som överstiger minimiarmering, fogar som tillåter rörelser i plattan och en långsam uttorkning. Det har upplevts att problem med sprickor i betonggolv beror på okunskap, olika viljor och slarv bland involverade aktörer. Därför är det även viktigt med tydliga mål och bra kommunikation mellan alla aktörer. På uppdrag av DynaMate har ett förslag till åtgärdsprogram för minskad sprick-bildning tagits fram. Detta kan ligga till grund för framtida golvprojekt och på sikt minska de stora kostnader som underhåll och reparationer medför. / Roughly estimated 1,5–2,0 million m2 of industrial concrete floors are produced in Sweden every year [1]. The results vary and the most common matter/failure among these floors is cracks [2]. Water finds its way down in the cracks and in some cases chlorides, which causes corrosion of the reinforcement. The reinforcement expands due to the corrosion and makes the concrete burst. The floor is no longer esthetically appealing. At the same time the lifetime is shortened substantially and the floor surface becomes uneven which complicates any truck traffic. Cracks arise due to restraint forces that develop because of concrete shrinkage. The width of the cracks is determined by the concretes tendency to shrink, reinforcement content and the extent of restraint forces. DynaMate builds and maintains Scania service centers and industrial facilities. They are experiencing major problems with cracking in industrial floors. The cracks bring large costs in terms of downtime, demolition, repair and any new production. The present report is based mainly on literature research from reports, articles and handbooks but also norms. Interviews were performed with qualified persons to share their experiences and opinions. To receive even more knowledge the authors attended two different castings of industrial floors. A reduction of cracking in concrete floors caused by the free shrinkage requires a concrete composition which minimizes the free shrinkage, reinforcement content in excess of minimum reinforcement, a slow drying and joints that allow movements. It was believed that the problem with cracks in concrete floors is due to ignorance, different wills and carelessness among the involved actors. Consequently it is also important to have clear objectives and good communication between all actors. On behalf of DynaMate a proposal for actions to reduce cracking was prepared. That proposal can form the basis for future flooring projects and ultimately reduce the significant costs due to maintenance and repairs.