Inductive method for the orientation of steel fibers in recycled mortars

Abstract

Mortars elaborated with recycled aggregates raise two main difficulties: lower mechanical strengths and higher shrinkage compared to traditional mortars. For this reason, fibers were used to improve the properties. Steel fibers are the most employed for their ferromagnetic qualities, what helps to orient them influenced by magnetic field. This paper argues how recycled mortars with steel fiber oriented under the influence of 500 mT field reach flexural strengths 10% higher than those with non-oriented fibers. Thus, mechanical strengths are closer to traditional mortars. Inclusion of fibers in mortar is suitable for obtaining shrinkage values similar to those obtained in traditional mortars.