Effects of Steel Fibers and Iron Filings on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Concrete for Energy Storage Application

Abstract

An experimental study on the thermal properties of iron filings and steel-fiber-reinforced concrete for solar/thermal energy storage application is presented in this report. It takes into account the results of measurements of thermal conductivity, thermal resistivity, thermal diffusivity and the results of compressive strength, density as well as energy storage capacity calculated from the knowledge of the above measured parameters. The experimental testing method is described as well: based upon the linear heat source theory, it requires the use of a special probe to be inserted into the sample. The experimentation was forwarded to test concrete aggregate mixtures with three different sizes and same quantity of steel fibers; two different quantities of iron filings and one plain concrete. The measurements were carried out from the pouring time of cubic samples and were ended up when hardened conditions were achieved. The results indicate that the steel fibers and iron filings have influence on the thermal and mechanical properties of the concretes tested, thus the iron filings and steel fibers reinforced concrete is suitable for better solar/thermal energy storage due to an increase in storage capacity over plain concrete.