Confined precise removal of reinforced concrete

Decontamination and remote handled shredding of reinforced concrete is fundamental to the decommissioning process of nuclear installations. The main target is to select and remove the contaminated material and to return the remaining material to the regular recycling loop, since the contaminated material usually only provides for a fraction of the total mass. Various methods, which are continuously being optimized and developed [1] are available for the only a few millimeter deep surface decontamination. The demolition and deep removal of reinforced concrete, e.g. in cracks or breaks, is still a problem. There are currently no procedures available that remove concrete and reinforcement in a single step in order for the surface to be released.