Mechanical Properties of High-Strength Concrete reinforced with Basalt and Polypropylene Fibers
Received: 10 January 2025 | Revised: 31 January 2025, 14 February 2025, and 16 February 2025 | Accepted: 21 February 2025 | Online: 3 April 2025
Corresponding author: Carren Diana Bakhita
Abstract
The hybridization of Basalt Fibers (BF) and Polypropylene Fibers (PF) in High-Strength Concrete (HSC) has immense potential to improve its mechanical properties. This paper investigates the compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, and flexural strength of HSC reinforced with single BF, single PF, and hybrid fibers. Samples from thirteen mixes (i.e., one control, four BF, four PF, and four hybrid mixes) were prepared and tested at 7, 14, and 28 days. The BF content ranged from 0.1 to 0.7%, while that of PF ranged from 0.05 to 0.3%. The results indicate that at 0.3% BF dosage, the compressive strength increased from 60.66 MPa in the control mix to 62.70 MPa (a 3.36% increase). Similarly, at a 0.1% PF dosage, it increased to 61.42 MPa (a 1.25% increase). The tensile splitting strength increased from 3.97 MPa in the control mix to 4.61 MPa (a 16.12% increase) with optimal BF, and to 4.22 MPa (a 6.30% increase) with optimal PF. Similarly, the flexural strength increased from 6.22 MPa to 7.40 MPa (an 18.97% increase) with optimal BF, and to 6.70 MPa (a 7.72% increase) with optimal PF. The optimal hybrid combination consisted of 0.3% BF and 0.1% PF, which increased the compressive strength to 64.62 MPa (a 6.53% increase) at 28 days. The tensile splitting strength and flexural strength increased by 44.33% and 29.58%, respectively. It was therefore concluded that combining both fiber types in concrete produced a positive synergistic effect. Thus, using fibers in a hybrid form is more beneficial for producing high-strength fiber-reinforced concrete.
Keywords:
basalt fiber, high-strength concrete, mechanical properties, optimum fiber content, polypropylene fiberDownloads
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