Study on mechanical properties of alkali-resistant basalt fiber reinforced concrete

Afroz M., Patnaikuni I., Venkatesan S.

Due to the concern about mechanical properties, thermal resistance, ecological friendliness and chemical resistance, basalt fibers have become intriguing now a days for infrastructural and civil engineering applications. In the present work, chemical durability of modified and non-modified basalt fibers is studied. The fibers were immersed into twelve solutions for 62 days considering the concrete medium. The failure pattern and damage features of the fibers were sorted with the observation of surface by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and their compositions were identified using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Long term mass retention capacity was also summarized. Efforts were also made to determine the strength maintenance rate of modified fibers in high performance ordinary portland cement (OPC) and high volume fly Ash (HVFA) concrete. The result revealed that the modified fiber exhibits superior properties compared to the non-modified fibers based on morphological and chemical analysis. Mechanical test results also showed that the modified basalt fiber can significantly improve the indirect tensile and flexural properties of HVFA concrete even after 56 days.

High C., Seliem H.M., El-Safty A., Rizkalla S.H.

This study investigated the use of basalt fiber bars as flexural reinforcement for concrete members and the use of chopped basalt fibers as an additive to enhance the mechanical properties of concrete. The material characteristics and development length of two commercially-available basalt fiber bars were evaluated. Test results indicate that flexural design of concrete members reinforced with basalt fiber bars should ensure compression failure and satisfying the serviceability requirements. ACI 440.1R-06 accurately predicts the flexural capacity of members reinforced with basalt bars, but it significantly underestimates the deflection at service load level. Use of chopped basalt fibers had little effect on the concrete compressive strength; however, significantly enhanced its flexural modulus.

Fiore V., Scalici T., Di Bella G., Valenza A.

In recent years, both industrial and academic world are focussing their attention toward the development of sustainable composites, reinforced with natural fibres. In particular, among the natural fibres (i.e. animal, vegetable or mineral) that can be used as reinforcement, the basalt ones represent the most interesting for their properties. The aim of this review is to illustrate the results of research on this topical subject. In the introduction, mechanical, thermal and chemical properties of basalt fibre have been reviewed. Moreover, its main manufacturing technologies have been described. Then, the effect of using this mineral fibre as reinforcement of different matrices as polymer (both thermoplastic and thermoset), metal and concrete has been presented. Furthermore, an overview on the application of this fibre in biodegradable matrix composites and in hybrid composites has been provided. Finally, the studies on the industrial applications of basalt fibre reinforced composites have been reviewed.

Lipatov Y.V., Gutnikov S.I., Manylov M.S., Zhukovskaya E.S., Lazoryak B.I.

Abstract Basalt glasses and fibers with zirconia content in the range from 0 to 7 wt% were obtained using ZrSiO 4 as a zirconium source. Weight loss and tensile strength loss of fibers after refluxing in alkali solution were determined. Basalt fiber with 5.7 wt% ZrO 2 had the best alkali resistance properties. Alkali treatment results in formation of protective surface layer on fibers. Morphology and chemical composition of surface layer were investigated. It was shown that alkali resistance of zirconia doped basalt fibers is caused by insoluble compounds of Zr 4+ , Fe 3+ and Mg 2+ in corrosion layer. Mechanical properties of initial and leached fibers were evaluated by a Weibull distribution. The properties of basalt fibers with ZrSiO 4 were compared with AR-glass fibers. The performance of concrete with obtained fibers was investigated.

Lee J.J., Song J., Kim H.

The chemical stability of basalt fiber in alkaline solution is investigated by the means of weight retention and tensile strength retention. It has been observed that the basalt fiber immersed in weak alkaline solution is very stable whereas the basalt fiber immersed in strong alkaline solution shows poor weight retention due to the high dissociation constant. On the other hand, the tensile strength of basalt fiber in alkaline solutions is drastically decreased regardless of alkaline solution concentrations. Also basalt fiber in saturated Ca(OH)2 solution, which is similar to the alkaline environment of cement hydration, shows very low weight loss and high stability even after 3 months of immersion compared to glass fiber in the same condition.

Ayub T., Shafiq N., Nuruddin M.F.

Knowledge of the concrete properties such as strength, elastic modulus, thermal expansion, heat generation, shrinkage and creepand durability, are important in the pavement designing. High-performance fiber reinforced concrete (HPFRC) is currently being used in the construction of airport runway and highway pavements but mostly it is used forrapid cure patching and where the early opening of the pavement is required. The reason for less use of HPFRC is its high cost as it employs higher cement conten t whichresults in thermal contraction problems due to high heat release during setting. In this study, material properties of an economical HPFRC containing Basalt fibers are determined which include compressive strength, elastic modulus and tensile strength. Basaltfibers are relatively cheaper and newfibres for concrete whichare recently investigated by a few researchers. In this study, influence of addition of 1, 2 and 3% Basaltfiber volume fraction in three different mixes of high-performance concrete (HPC) is investigated. The first mix was prepared by using 100% cement and other two mixes were prepared by replacing 10% cement content with silica fume and locally produced met kaolin. Experimental results showed that the addition of Basaltfibersup to 2% fiber volume together with mineral admixtures improved the compressive strength. The improvement in the strains corresponding to maximum compressive strength and splitting tensile strength results was observed at all fiber volumes, whereas there is a negligible influence of the fiber addition on the elastic modulus. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Department of Urban and Infrastructure Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology.

Jiang C., Fan K., Wu F., Chen D.

With high ductility and sufficient durability, fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) is widely used. In this study, the effects of the volume fraction and length of basalt fibre (BF) on the mechanical properties of FRC were analyzed. Coupling with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP), the microstructure of BF concrete was studied also. The results show that adding BF significantly improves the tensile strength, flexural strength and toughness index, whereas the compressive strength shows no obvious increase. Furthermore, the length of BF presents an influence on the mechanical properties. Compared with the plain concrete, the compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strength of concrete reinforced with 12 mm BF increase by −0.18–4.68%, 14.08–24.34% and 6.30–9.58% respectively. As the BF length increasing to 22 mm, corresponding strengths increase by 0.55–5.72%, 14.96–25.51% and 7.35–10.37%, separately. A good bond between the BF and the matrix interface is observed in the early age. However, this bond shows degradation to a certain extent at 28 days. Moreover, the MIP results indicate that the concrete containing BF presents higher porosity.

Wu G., Wang X., Wu Z., Dong Z., Zhang G.

This study describes an experimental investigation of the degradation of the tensile properties of basalt fibers and epoxy-based composites in various corrosive environments, including alkaline, acid, salt and water solutions, and clarifies the corresponding degradation mechanisms. Carbon and glass fibers and their composites are adopted as references. Accelerated experiments were conducted at temperatures of 25℃ and 55℃ and the variation in tensile properties was studied by means of tension testing, mass loss weighing, scanning electron microscope imaging and energy spectrum analysis. The experimental results show that basalt fibers posses relatively strong resistance to water and salt corrosion, moderate resistance to acid corrosion and severe degradation in an alkaline solution. The tensile properties of basalt FRP composites are much better than those of basalt fibers. The degradation mechanism of basalt fibers involves damage by etching in salt, water and alkaline solutions and by change in the chemical composites in an acid solution. The fracture properties of basalt FRP composites are controlled by the failure of corroded interfaces between the fibers and the resin, making the interface the critical factor, rather than the fiber itself.

Kabay N.

In this paper, the effect of basalt fiber (BF) on physical and mechanical properties of concretes is reported. High strength and normal strength concretes were cast by adjusting water to cement ratios as 0.45 and 0.60 and a total of ten mixtures were prepared by incorporating different amounts and sizes of BF into those concretes. Test results showed that an improved flexural strength, fracture energy and abrasion resistance can be obtained by using BF even at low contents. However inclusion of BF in concrete resulted in a decrease in the compressive strength. A quite strong relationship was established between abrasive wear and void content and flexural strength of concretes.

Rybin V.A., Utkin A.V., Baklanova N.I.

The sol-gel method is employed to form zirconia coatings on basalt fibers. Based on morphological features and the elemental composition of the coatings produced under various conditions, as well as data on the tensile strength of single fibers, conditions of the deposition of the coatings are determined that favor the minimization of the negative effect of heat treatment and an oxidizing medium on the properties of the fibers. The corrosion resistance of the basalt fibers in a strongly alkaline medium is studied. It is shown that the deposition of a zirconia protective coating improves the corrosion resistance of the basalt fibers; in this case, the morphology and texture of the zirconia coating are of primary importance.

Wu H., Zhao J., Wang Z.

Quagliarini E., Monni F., Lenci S., Bondioli F.

► Basalt is an increasing alternative to glass, carbon or aramidic fibers in civil engineering. ► Few mechanical data of basalt products is present in literature and standard protocols are missing. ► A test protocol for tensile characterization of basalt ropes and rods is provided. ► Results confirm that basalt rods and ropes could be a good alternative to other similar products. Basalt is an emerging material, whose use is increasing in constructions and civil applications as an alternative to glass, carbon or aramidic fibers. Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) rods and Basalt Fiber (BF) ropes are going to be used as an alternative to glass, carbon or aramidic fibers for strengthening purposes but few information about their mechanical performances is present in literature and standard test protocols are missing. Thus, this work tries to provide a test protocol for tensile characterization of BF ropes and a validation of the test protocol used for tensile characterization of not-basalt-FRP rods applied on BFRP rods. This is a very important issue from an engineering standpoint in order to evaluate their applicability for architectural heritage retrofitting, as, for example, in repointing (rods), or in innovative techniques, such as the one actually still being tested in our laboratories, that is aimed to strengthen historic masonry (ropes). Experimental test results obtained are shown. Results seem to confirm that BFRP rods and BF ropes could be a good alternative to other similar products.

Lipatov Y.V., Gutnikov S.I., Manylov M.S., Lazoryak B.I.

We have studied the effect of zirconia additions on the properties of basalt glasses and fibers. The solubility limit of ZrO2 in basalt glasses is determined to be 7.1 wt %. Fibers produced from modified basalt glass contain both tetragonal and monoclinic zirconia. The highest ZrO2 concentration in basalt fibers is 3.1 wt %. We have determined the fiber drawing temperature ranges and assessed the tensile strength and alkali resistance of the fibers. With increasing ZrO2 content, the tensile strength of the fibers (d = 11−12 μm) decreases from 1.8 to 0.6 GPa. The addition of less than 3.1 wt % ZrO2 increases the alkali resistance of the basalt fibers by 37%. The addition of more than 3.1 wt % ZrO2 to the glass batch reduces the alkali resistance and tensilestrength of the basalt fibers.

Wei B., Cao H., Song S.

Jiang C.H., McCarthy T.J., Chen D., Dong Q.Q.

This paper presents initial work with the application of basalt fiber (BF) in the field of reinforced cement composites. Effect of BF on mortar drying shrinkage, mechanical prosperities and bond performance were studied. The results showed that adding of BF reduced markedly dry shrinkage of mortar especially at early ages. BF mortar had a greater compressive and flexural strength at early hydration period，but had a little less strength at the age of 28-days than mortar without fiber. Four point bending tests shows that addition of BF increased effectively toughness of mortar specimen at 28-days at the same loading, but had not a remarkable effect on fracture strength. A good bond was observed between BF and mortar matrix interface zone by SEM in early ages and there was debonding phenomenon between BF and mortar matrix in the long-term ages.

Hamada H.M., Abed F., Al-Sadoon Z.A., Hassan A.

Abstract Concrete is widely used in construction due to its remarkable compressive strength and durability. However, its performance can deteriorate when exposed to harsh environmental conditions, such as acidic or alkaline surroundings. There has been considerable interest in incorporating both basalt and steel fibers (B&SFs) to enhance the resilience of concrete in such challenging settings. This study presents a comprehensive examination of the influence of B&SFs on the strength and microstructure of concrete, utilizing desert sand as a fine aggregate and subjecting it to exposure to acidic and alkaline environments. Employing a systematic experimental approach, this research assesses concrete samples with varying B&SFs proportions. The study encompasses density and compressive strength tests, complemented by microstructural analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), to analyze the performance of the concrete under diverse environmental conditions. Initial findings indicate that including B&SFs results in a substantial improvement in concrete strength. The role of basalt fibers (BFs) in enhancing the concrete's resistance to acidic environments by mitigating deleterious effects on microstructural integrity is particularly noteworthy. Notably, when exposed to acidic conditions, concrete mixtures containing 0.5% BFs demonstrated the least strength loss. When B&SFs are synergized, their positive effects are amplified, yielding concrete with exceptional resistance to alkaline environments. Microstructural analysis reveals that incorporating fibers refines and strengthens the interconnected matrix of cementitious products, thereby enhancing cohesion and overall strength. Furthermore, this study underscores that desert sand can be a viable alternative to traditional fine aggregates without compromising concrete resistance if it is appropriately reinforced with fibers. In conclusion, this research sheds light on the promising role of B&SFs in augmenting the strength and microstructure of concrete containing desert sand.

Borito S.M., Zhu H., Ibrahim Y.E., Haruna S.I., Bo Z.

This study explores the combined effects of nanosilica (NS) and basalt fibers (BF) on the mechanical and microstructural properties of superabsorbent polymer (SAP)-modified concrete. NS (0–1.5% replaced by cement weight) and BF (0–1.2% by volume fraction) were incorporated to optimize compressive, flexural, and split-tensile strengths using response surface methodology. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was employed to analyze failure mechanisms. Results show that while SAP alone reduced strength, the addition of NS and BF mitigated this loss through synergistic microstructure enhancement and crack-bridging reinforcement. The optimal mix (0.9% NS and 1.2% BF) increased compressive, flexural, and split-tensile strengths by 15.3%, 10.0%, and 14.0%, respectively. SEM analysis revealed that NS filled SAP-induced pores, while BF limited crack propagation, contributing to improved mechanical strength of SAP-modified concrete. This hybrid approach offers a promising solution for durable and sustainable concrete pavements.

Yue H., Wang Y., Liang X., An J.

Ni S., Luo W., Wang Z.

Melchiors E.F., Bolina F.L., Pachla E., Webber J., de Matos P.R., Rodríguez E.D.

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a new generation of cementitious materials with exceptional mechanical properties. In the study, the effects of the type and content of different microfibers on the mechanical performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams were determined using finite element analysis (FEA) with Abaqus software. The cross-sectional stresses and using finite element analysis (FEA) with Abaqus software. The cross-sectional stresses and deflection of beams with UHPC produced with aramid, basalt and steel (1.0 and 2.0 % content) microfibers were assessed. The parametric data of the FEA model were defined on the basis of experimentally evaluated results of small-scale specimens. The compressive and tensile strength of the UHPC with these fibers was performed. Although the small-scale results indicate an improvement in the tensile behavior of fiber-reinforced UHPC and a negligible influence of the fiber content on the compressive behavior, the numerical results show that the use of fibers has no significant effect on the mechanical behavior of the beam (i.e., its ultimate state). The fibers increase the beam's elastic performance but have little effect on its plastic behavior. Except for 2% of steel fibers, UHPC can reduce the mechanical capacity of a beam.

Huang H., Du C., Yi F., Chen D., Zhang C.

Nanthini M., Ganesan R., Xavier J.R.

This study investigates the enhancement of geopolymer concrete (GPC) through the synergistic incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) and nanozirconia (NZ), aiming to improve its mechanical and functional properties for various construction applications. GPC is known for its high durability, excellent thermal stability, low shrinkage, and low permeability, contributing to its longevity and resistance to environmental factors. It also offers sustainability by utilizing industrial by-products like fly ash. The research explores how GO and NZ can further enhance these properties. Graphene oxide improves the microstructural integrity and mechanical strength of GPC due to its high surface area and load-bearing capacity. Nanozirconia increases thermal stability and chemical resistance, creating a denser and more durable matrix. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the incorporation of these nanomaterials. At optimal concentrations of 0.3% NZ and 0.3% GO with 49.201% fly ash, the GPC/NZ/GO composite exhibited a 50% increase in compressive strength compared to the control mix. Additionally, significant improvements were observed in flexural and splitting tensile strengths. The novelty of this research lies in the innovative combination of GO and NZ to develop a multifunctional geopolymer concrete with enhanced properties. By leveraging nanomaterial synergies and employing RSM for optimization, the study advances the understanding of high-performance geopolymer composites and offers valuable insights for their engineering in diverse applications.

Xue H., Wang J., Jiang Q.

Liu M., Guo Z., Qian Y., Chen L., Mao X., Zhao J., Yang D.

Zheng P., Li Y., Hu Z., Feng Z., Wang Q., Liu W., Shao T., Lv H.

Wang X., Kan Q., Petru M., Kang G.

Despite the known influence of chemical composition on the mechanical properties of basalt fibers, a clear understanding of this relationship is lacking. Chemical composition analysis and mechanical property tests are performed on basalt fiber samples. Test data is collected from various countries and regions to expand the dataset. An improved Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) approach is specifically designed to address the complexities of this relationship. By incorporating physical models like the Makishima-Mackenzie model, Rocherulle model and a symbolic regression formula, the PINN leverages established physical principles to enhance its ability to understand the underlying mechanisms governing the influence of chemical composition on mechanical properties. This focus on physical mechanisms not only improves the interpretability of the model but also empowers it to make accurate predictions, as evidenced by the high squared correlation coefficients of 0.8767 and 0.8145 between predicted and experimental values of modulus and strength, respectively.

Guo Y., Gao J., Lv J.

In this paper, the effect of basalt fiber (BF) on the frost resistance of concrete under different curing conditions was investigated, and its frost resistance mechanism was analyzed. Three different curing conditions (normal curing, short-term curing, and seawater curing) were adopted, and concrete with different BF volume contents was designed. Freeze-thaw (FT) tests were carried out using the rapid freezing method to test the frost resistance of basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC). Additionally, the mass loss rate (MLR), relative dynamic modulus of elasticity (RDME) change, and compressive strength reduction of specimens during the freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) were evaluated. The results show that when the BF content is 0.15%, under normal curing, short-term curing, and seawater curing conditions, the residual compressive strength of BFRC after FTCs was increased by 5.4%, 28.1%, and 30.9%, respectively, compared to plain concrete. By incorporating BF into concrete, the development of microcracks can be effectively retarded, and damage generation during FTCs can be reduced. In addition, the microscopic morphological characteristics and pore structure characteristics of concrete further elucidate the frost resistance mechanism of BFRC from a microscopic perspective.

Mahmoud M.R., Wang X., Xingyu B., Altayeb M., Liu S., Moussa A.M.

This study investigates the flexural behaviour of eight full-scale semi-precast slabs, where the precast bottom layer comprises fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) with varying fibre types such as steel, chopped basalt, and basalt minibar fibres. The upper layer of these semi-precast slabs is cast-in-situ normal-strength concrete, with the interface bonding between the layers enhanced by two steel truss members. The semi-precast FRC slabs are longitudinally reinforced with prestressed basalt fibre-reinforced polymer (BFRP) and steel bars. Within the eight semi-precast slabs, two reference specimens are prepared for comparative analysis. These reference specimens have a precast bottom panel cast with normal-strength concrete, with one reinforced using longitudinal steel bars and the other reinforced with prestressed BFRP bars. The study focuses on assessing cracking patterns, ultimate moment capacity, stress distribution, stiffness, and ductility of these semi-precast slabs. The experimental test results demonstrate that the use of FRC and prestressed BFRP bars has a significant effect on improving the flexural behaviour of the semi-precast slabs, enhancing their strength, curbing deflection, cracking behaviour, and ultimate load capacity. Furthermore, the research includes an evaluation comparing three distinct code specifications for ultimate moment capacity against the experimental outcomes. This comparative analysis reveals a notable discrepancy, emphasizing the need to revise current code equations to better address the complexities associated with combining FRC and prestressed FRP materials in structural applications.

Bili O., El kalaaoui K., Boukhriss A., Gmouh S.

Zheng L., Shui T., Xiang D., Zhang J., Liu L., Sun H., Wu Y., Cheng J., Zhao C., Li H.