Alternating Magnetic Field Effect on Fine-Aggregate Steel Chip–Reinforced Concrete Properties

Abstract

Despite positive advantages of steel fibers/chips in concrete, there are some drawbacks, such as decreasing workability, which restricts fiber contents, and the impossibility of fibers orientation management in the optimum direction. This study addresses these issues using an alternating magnetic field (AMF). Compression experiments are conducted on cubic fine-aggregate steel chip–reinforced concrete (SCRC) specimens An AMF of .5 Tesla (T) and 5 Hz is applied to either fresh SCRC in different directions or to hardened SCRC. The test setup is capable of magnetizing and compressing specimens simultaneously. Applying an AMF to ready-mixed SCRC facilitates the compaction process of concrete and affects compressive strength, depending on exposure direction; exposure in the optimum direction increases compressive strength more than 17%. Moreover, subjecting hardened SCRC to an AMF decreases its compressive strength by approximately 11%. Finally, the advantages of this technique in the concrete industry and the feasibility of developing this method for real-time behavior controlling of smart structures are discussed.