Enhancing the vibration reduction ability of concrete by using steel reinforcement and steel surface treatments

The vibration reduction ability of mortar, as expressed by the loss modulus under dynamic flexure (0.2-1.0 Hz), was increased by three (or more) orders of magnitude upon the embedment of steel rebars in the mortar, mainly due to the increase in the vibration damping capacity. By sandblasting the steel rebars, the loss modulus was increased by up to 91%, relative to the values obtained by using as-received rebars, due to the increase in the damping capacity. Surface treatment of the steel rebars by ozone had negligible effect on the loss modulus. The damping capacity was comparably enhanced by steel addition and silica fume addition.