Numerical investigation on the impact of alternating magnetic fields on the mechanical properties of concrete with various silica sand and ferrosilicon compositions

Abstract

In previous experiments, the impact of adding silica sand and ferrosilicon to concrete exposed to magnetic fields was examined. Building on those works, this study used numerical modeling in COMSOL to verify those findings, assess potential errors, and predict outcomes for untested conditions. Concrete samples containing 5 % and 10 % silica sand and ferrosilicon were modeled under magnetic fields of 0.5 and 1 Tesla. The results revealed that increasing the amount of these additives significantly improved the compressive strength and strain properties of the concrete, both with and without magnetic fields. A 10 % blend of the additives increased compressive strength by 28.7 % at 7 days and 22.2 % at 28 days, while applying a 1-Tesla magnetic field further enhanced strength by up to 56.2 % at 7 days and 45.3 % at 28 days. The study also highlighted that the combination of silica sand and ferrosilicon worked effectively together, leading to stronger and more resilient concrete. During this modelling it also has been discovered that the magnetic properties of samples will not change during the aging process and the magnetic susceptibility of ferrosilicon under magnetic field is more than silica sand. By calculating both the magnetic and mechanical properties of the samples, this research not only confirmed earlier findings but also offers a framework for expanding future experiments, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming lab tests.

Keywords

• Ferrosilicon
• Silica sand
• Alternating magnetic field
• COMSOL
• Finite element
• Strain