Revista de ciencias e ingeniería de materiales

Mechanical Performance of Reinforced Concrete with Different Proportions and lengths of Basalt Fibres

Abstract

Elshafie S, Boulbibane M and Whittleston G

This paper discusses the effect of the fraction (0.2-0.3% by volume) and length (22 mm and 24 mm) of basalt fibre on the mechanical properties of concrete. The paper aims to evaluate the effect of different combinations of basalt fibres on the mechanical properties of concrete, as well as identify the best basalt fibre length and content that have the optimum influence on concrete. This paper is considered to be distinct from other research work as it fills the literature gap by presenting new unknown facts and also adds new knowledge. For example, it identifies the best basalt fibre length and content combination that demonstrates an improvement in the mechanical properties of concrete. It suggests the use of a blend of 12 mm short and 24 mm long fibres as they have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of concrete, it validates the results obtained from the laboratory by using a statistical analysis of variance ANOVA software, as well as determine the correlation between the mechanical properties of concrete. The results showed that the optimum basalt fibre length and content that enhanced the mechanical properties of concrete is 24 mm long fibre with content of 0.2% by the total volume of concrete. It also show that changing basalt fibre length and content enhance not only both tensile and flexural strengths of concrete, but also reduce its compressive strength, workability and air content of concrete, as well as maintain the unit weight and modulus of elasticity values. In this context, the incorporation of basalt fibres within the mixture becomes an important parameter for strengthening concrete in the construction industry.