Experimental and theoretical investigations on the damage evolution of the basalt fiber reinforced concrete under freeze-thaw cycles

Abstract

Damage and defects in concrete structures are unavoidable due to their complex composition and challenging manufacturing process, which can lead to fatal collapse in service. In the present study, we have conducted a comprehensive investigation on the damage evolution of the basalt fibre-reinforced concrete (BFC) under freeze-thaw cycles, based on experiments and theoretical modelling. We have performed the freeze-thaw cycle experiment on the BFC and measured the curve of the damage-cycling number. Based on the thermodynamic principle, we have derived the expression of the relationship between the damage and the freeze-thaw number. Then, using the attenuation theory as a foundation, we have built another damage model. The experimental data is then fitted using the two established models, and the corresponding parameters are identified. Furthermore, the detailed mechanism of the free-thaw-induced damage has been analysed by the numerical simulation of the thermal stress inside the BFC. These findings cast new light on the deep understanding of the failure of concrete materials, which are beneficial to engineering new materials and new structures in many fields.