The hybrid effects of basalt and PVA fiber on properties of a cementitious composite: Physical properties and non-destructive tests

Abstract

This study aimed to experimentally examine the physical properties and non-destructive properties of cementitious composites for different hybrid basalt and PVA fiber contents. The total fiber content of 2% was formed with five different proportions of PVA fiber and basalt fiber. Within the scope of the experimental studies, various mechanical (compressive strength and elasticity modulus), durability (capillary water absorption and water absorption), physical (apparent void volume and bulk density), non-destructive (ultrasonic pulse velocity and Schmidt rebound hammer) and microstructural (scanning electron microscopy) tests were carried out to investigate the properties of the produced hybrid fiber reinforced composites. The results showed that the water absorption capacity and water absorption coefficient by capillarity values decreased while the hardened composite density values increased as the basalt fiber ratio increased in the mixtures. The maximum ultrasonic pulse velocity values were obtained from P0B100 (consisting of only 100% basalt fiber) samples with the highest Schmidt rebound hammer values of 4.11 km/s and 32, respectively.