Performance of basalt fibre-reinforced concrete for pavement and flooring applications

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of basalt fibres on the performance of concrete and is designed for applications in flooring and pavement construction. A total of seven concrete mixtures were prepared using various lengths of chopped basalt fibres (12 mm, 36 mm and 50 mm length) with two dosages of 4 kg/m3 and 8 kg/m3, respectively. In order to evaluate the performance of these mixtures for these specified applications, the mechanical properties and durability related to the intended application were examined. The investigation of these mechanical properties directly correlates to the compressive strength and flexural strength of the basalt-reinforced concrete. The abrasion resistance, porosity, sorptivity and sorption of the mixtures were also evaluated to determine the durability and subsequent performance of the mixtures. An Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity test, a non-destructive test, was conducted to verify and validate the quality of the mixtures. Results from this study showed a significant increase in flexural strength and abrasion resistance of concrete when combined with basalt fibres, although a slight decrease in the compressive strength of concrete was observed. The introduction of basalt fibres also served to increase the permeability properties of these mixtures. However, this resulting permeability was found to be within an acceptable range for the designed application. Results from the Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity test and the subsequent validation of the results validated the viability of assessing the quality of concrete mixtures incorporating basalt fibres by employing this method of non-destructive testing.