Main study topics:

1. Theory of radon diffusion and convection through building materials, mathematical description, methods of solving transport equations

2. Physical parameters of building materials describing radon transport (radon diffusion coefficient, radon transmittance, radon resistance, radon diffusion length)

3. Methods of radon detection, the use of continuous radon monitors to study the transport of radon through building materials

4. The principle and construction of measuring devices suitable for study of radon transport through building materials and for determining the physical parameters describing this transport

5. Individual experiments conducted by students on selected building materials (for example waterproofing materials, thermal insulations, silicate materials etc.) in order to determine the values of selected physical parameters describing the radon transport and their dependence on temperature, moisture content, homogeneity, chemical composition, surface treatments, degree of degradation etc.

Differential equations of radon diffusion in stationary and non-stationary state - solution options, available software tools

Principles of measuring the radon diffusion coefficient

Requirements for measuring equipment, equipment variants

Design principles of radon detectors, measurement uncertainties

Principles of experimental work in the field of radon diffusion

Elaboration of the assigned experimental task, including design and assembly of the measuring apparatus, evaluation of the obtained results and preparation of the report.

The student will learn to assemble the measuring apparatus for the given purpose, mathematically describe the measured physical event and ensure the consistency between the mathematical description and the actual conditions of the measurement.

Jiránek, M. New, efficient and generally applicable design of radon-proof insulations – a proposal for a uniform approach. Radiation Protection Dosimetry (2017), Vol. 177 (1-2), pp. 121-124, doi. 10.1093/rpd/ncx139

Jiránek, M. and Svoboda, Z. A new approach to the assessment of radon barrier properties of waterproofing materials. Radiation Protection Dosimetry (2017), Vol. 177 (1-2), pp. 116-120, doi. 10.1093/rpd/ncx140

Rovenská K., Jiránek M.: Radon diffusion coefficient measurement in waterproofings – A review of methods and an analysis of differences in results. In: Applied Radiation and Isotopes 70 (2012), pp. 802-807, doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.01.002

Jiránek M., Kotrbatá M.: Radon Diffusion Coefficients in 360 Waterproof Materials of Different Chemical Composition. In: Radiation Protection Dosimetry 2011; 145(1), pp. 178-183, doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncr043

Jiránek M., Svoboda Z.: Transient Radon Diffusion through Radon-proof Membranes: A New Technique for More Precise Determination of the Radon Diffusion Coefficient. In: Building and Environment 2009, 44(6), pp. 1318-1327, doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.09.017

Jiránek M, Fronka A. New technique for the determination of radon diffusion coefficient in radon-proof membranes. In: Radiation Protection Dosimetry 2008; 130(1), pp. 22-25, doi:10.1093/rpd/ncn121