the effects of uniform magnetic field on the mechanical and microstructural properties of concrete incorporating steel fibers

This study investigated the effects of applying a uniform magnetic field (umf) of flux density 500 mili tesla (mt) to fresh and hardened concrete specimens with steel fibers at volume ratios of 1 and 1.5% on mechanical and microstructural properties. to attain these objectives, compressive and splitting tensile strengths tests were carried out on the specimens with steel fiberreinforced concrete (sfrc) at 28 days. furthermore, the microstructure of sfrc, subjected to the umf, was assessed via scanning electron microscopy (sem) images. an electromagnetic instrument, capable of generating a density of 500 mt, was used to produce umf. finally, a model equation was proposed to predict the splitting tensile strength of sfrc subjected to the umf as a function of its compressive strength. the application of umf to sfrc specimens incorporating 1.5% steel fibers revealed an increase in both compressive and splitting tensile strengths up to about 18.2% and 9.5%, respectively. the sem analysis indicated that the umf enhanced the cement hydration process, which is responsible for the higher mechanical strength development of sfrc compared to the control specimen.