A Experimental Study of UMF on Compressive Strength of Concrete Containing Quartz

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of applying a Uniform Magnetic Field (UMF) with a density of ۵۰۰۰ Gauss to ready mixed and hardened concrete containing quartz sandstone coarse aggregates on compressive strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity. The microstructure of the concrete was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Quartz sandstone is a piezoelectric mineral that generates an electric potential change under uniaxial loading, suggesting that the magnetic field may affect the piezoelectric properties of quartz aggregates in concrete. The study used quartz sandstones with nominal maximum sizes of ۱۰ and ۲۵ mm in ratios of ۴۰ and ۶۰ by total volume, respectively, with a water-cement ratio of ۰.۴ for concrete mixes. Compressive strength tests were conducted on both cubic and cylindrical concrete samples to investigate the direction of compressive load and UMF. A magnetic solenoid made with ۱۱۰۰ turns copper wires with a diameter of ۱.۳۵ mm was used to produce magnetic flux density close to ۵۰۰۰ G. The results showed that applying UMF to ready mixed and hardened concrete increased cubic compressive strengths by up to ۱۶.۴۳% and ۲۱.۸۱%, respectively, while cylindrical compressive strengths were enhanced by up to ۱۷.۲۷% and ۲۴.۷۰%, respectively.

Keywords:

Uniform magnetic field , Quartz sandstone , Compressive strength of concrete , Magnetic solenoid , Piezoelectricity.