Electrically conductive concrete mix for electromagnetic (EM) ground plane
Conductive concrete mixtures are described that are configured to reflect, for instance, EM waves propagating from an EM pulser onto the conductive concrete mixture forming a ground plane, rather than absorb or dissipate the electromagnetic energy. The conductive concrete mixtures include cement, aggregate, water, metallic conductive material, and conductive carbon particles.
1. A slab structure, comprising:
a slab of conductive concrete mixture, the conductive concrete mixture including
cement;
aggregate;
water;
metallic conductive material; and
an electromagnetic reflective material including electrically conductive carbon particles, wherein the electrically conductive carbon particles are present in an amount from ten to twenty-five percent of the conductive concrete mixture by weight.
2. The slab structure of claim 1 , wherein the cement includes a Type I cement.
3. The slab structure of claim 1 , wherein the aggregate includes iron ore.
4. The slab structure of claim 1 , wherein the aggregate includes copper.
5. The slab structure of claim 1 , wherein the metallic conductive material includes at least one of steel fibers or steel shavings.
6. The slab structure of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive carbon particles includes carbon powder.
7. The slab structure of claim 1 , wherein the conductive concrete mixture includes a superplasticizer.