Title:
Experimental Investigation of Steel Fiber Distribution and Influencing Factors in Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Using an Optimized Induction-Based Method (Prepublished)
Author(s):
Xiaohui Zhang, Hule Li, Quan Zhang, Zhengyao Wang
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
induction-based method; steel fiber; steel fiber distribution; steel fiber-reinforced concrete with coarse aggregates
DOI:
10.14359/51751828
Date:
7/1/2026
Abstract:
The interference between steel fiber and coarse aggregate reduces the homogeneity of fiber distribution and orientation, which may compromise the expected reinforcing effectiveness of steel fibers in concrete. Traditional destructive testing techniques constrain the quality control of steel fiber distribution in prefabricated concrete segments; developing an inductance-based technique contributes to non-destructive characterization of steel fiber distribution. This work uses a Helmholtz coil to solve the magnetic field non-uniform distribution, thereby designing an inductor device to improve the accuracy of steel fiber distribution monitoring within concrete. On this basis, a multi-parameter experiment was designed to study the coupling effect of coarse aggregate and steel fiber, with key variables including water-to-binder ratio, coarse aggregate gradation, steel fiber mixing sequence, vibration duration, and casting flow distance. The C50 concrete mixture incorporates fly ash (75 kg/m³) as a supplementary cementitious material to improve workability and particle packing density. The primary findings are as follows: the induction-based method enables non-destructive evaluation of steel fiber content and orientation in steel fiber‑reinforced concrete containing coarse aggregate (SFRC‑CA), demonstrating high detection efficiency. The larger the aggregate size and water-binder ratio, the worse the steel fiber distribution uniformity. Improper vibration will lead to steel fiber thickness-related settlement, while the longer the flow distances, the more uneven the orientation of the fiber. These results offer important reference for material design and quality control of precast SFRC-CA components.