Steel Fiber Orientation Efficiency Factor Model for a Magnetically Treated Cement-Based Composite

Abstract In typical steel fiber-reinforced concrete, the fibers are randomly distributed and oriented throughout the matrix, and a magnetic field can effectively align these randomly oriented fibers. To predict the extent to which the steel fibers contained in mortar can be aligned by a magnetic field, an analytical steel fiber orientation efficiency factor model was proposed as a function of the magnetic induction intensity and exposure time. To verify the applicability of the proposed model, experiments were conducted for various magnetic induction intensities and exposure times with normal mortars and mortars in which some or all the sand was replaced with steel slag. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model allows predicting the degree of alignment of steel fibers under magnetic fields. However, this model can only be applied to a normal mortar. In the case of mortar containing steel slag, it is confirmed that the steel slag, which is a ferrous material, reduces the magnetic induction intensity, reducing the degree of alignment of steel fibers in the mortar.