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Fresh and mechanical properties of basalt fiber in normal concrete

Research · December 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2274.5683

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ICESA 2014
Internatıional Civil Engineering & Architecture Symposium for Academicians

FRESH AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BASALT FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE

M. Yakhlaf1, A, Abdul Aziz2, K.A. Soudki3, A. El-Gabry4

mohammed_yekhlif@yahoo.com

1
Research Assistant (Tripoli), corresponding author 2 Graduate Research Assistant (Saudi Arabia)
3
Professor and Canada Research Chair (Canada)
4
Assistant Professor, Housing & Building National Research Center (Egypt)

ABSTRACT
This paper presents the fresh and mechanical properties of basalt fiber-reinforced normal vibrated concrete
(BFRNVC) mixtures. A total of 6 non-air entrained basalt fiber reinforced normal vibrated concrete mixtures were
produced incorporating with basalt fiber volume of 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%; the water-to-cement
ratio (w/c) was 0.42. Mid-range water reducer was used to enhance the workability of the concrete mixtures. The
workability of all concrete mixtures was tested with a slump test. The freshly mixed concrete mixtures were tested
for slump, air content and unit weight. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, modulus of rupture, and
toughness of hardened concretes were evaluated. The test results revealed that the compressive strength and
splitting tensile strength of BFRNVC mixtures increased as the basalt fiber content increased. The basalt fiber
increased the modulus of rupture and toughness of the BFRNVC mixtures. The toughness showed good trend
where all mixtures with basalt fibers showed improving in the toughness compared to the control mixture
Key words: Basalt fibers; basalt fiber reinforced normal vibrated concrete; compressive strength; modulus of
rupture; splitting tensile strength; toughness.

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I. INTRODUCTION
Fibers are used in reinforced concrete mixes to improve tensile strength and toughness and reduce cracking. In the
last thirty years, the use of fibers increased in ready-mixed concrete, pre-cast concrete, and shotcrete applications
[1] (Kosmatka et. al 2008). Steel fibers are the most common type of fibers(50% of the total used fibers), followed
by polypropylene fibers (20% of total used fibers), then glass fibers (5% of the total used fibers) finally other types
of fibers (25% of the total used fibers). Extensive research work has been conducted on different type of fibers
such as steel fibers, wood fibers, polypropylene fibers, glass fibers and carbon fibers mixed with concrete [2-3].
Some drawbacks of these fibers limited their application.
Basalt is a new natural fiber that is environmentally friendly and has excellent characteristics such as high tensile
strength, high temperature resistance, light weight, non-corrosive and costs less. This makes basalt fibers as an
excellent alternative to fiber products currently used in reinforced concrete. However, there has been limited
research in the published literature on the fresh and hardened properties of basalt fiber reinforced concrete. Ma et
al. (2010) [4] found that presoaked basalt fibers in concrete can significantly enhance the tensile strength and
toughness. Ma et al. (2013) [5] concluded that as the basalt fiber content increases the fluidity and the compressive
strength decreases. Zhang et al.(2011) [6] found that short basalt fibers in normal concrete increased the flexural
strength and cracking loads. Also, basalt fibers increases the splitting tensile strength and toughness index as cited
by Jiang et al [7]; where the compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strength of concrete reinforced with 12 mm
basalt fiber increase by -0.18 to 4.68%, 14.08 to 24.34% and 6.30 to 9.58% respectively
This paper presents the fresh and mechanical properties of basalt fibers in normal vibrated concrete mixtures.
The study included six different basalt fiber reinforced normal vibrated concrete mixtures.

II. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The primary goal of this study is to develop a basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC) with optimum fresh and
mechanical properties. The research study will be iterative with the following specific objectives:
 Optimize the amount of short basalt fibers mixed in normal vibrated concrete (NVC) mixtures;
 Examine the effects of basalt fibers on the fresh properties slump, air content and unit weight of
BFRNVC mixtures;
 Investigate the effect of basalt fibers on the mechanical properties (compressive strength, splitting
tensile strength, flexural strength, and toughness) of BFRNVC mixtures.

III. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

Constituent Materials
Normal (Type GU) portland cement, crushed limestone (coarse aggregate, CA), manufactured concrete sand (fine
aggregate, FA), mid-range water reducer (MRWR), and tap water (W) were used in this study. The manufactured
sand was conform the specification OPSS 1002 [8]. Figure 1 shows the basalt fibers (BFs) that was used in this
study. Table 1 shows the physical properties of the basalt fibers and superplasticizer.

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ICESA 2014
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Table 1. Physical properties of basalt fibers and superplasticizer

Material Properties
Basalt fibers (BFs) Relative density: 2.7
Tensile strength: 4.84GPa
Tensile modulus: 89GPa
Length: 24 mm
Diameter: 13μm
Mid-range water reducer (MRWR) Relative density: 1.04
(PLASTOL 341) Solid content: 33%
Concrete Mixture Proportions
A total of six non air-entrained normal vibrated concrete (NVC) mixtures incorporating different basalt fiber
content were produced in this study. One mixture with no fibers was use as a control and five additional mixtures
having different percentages of basalt fibers content were developed. Table 2 presents the details of the BFRNVC
mixture proportions. superplasticizer was added to the NVC mixtures to enhance their workability; the
superplasticizer dosages ranged between 0–1.35%. The BFRNVC mixtures were designed to have a slump ranging
from150mm and 200mm without the use of superplasticizer [1].
Table 2. Details of concrete mixture proportions/m3
Concrete W/B BFs CA FA C W MRWR
mix ratio (vol. %) (kg) (kg) (kg) (kg) (kg) (% C)
M0.0 0.42 0.0 0.0 1060 600 488 205 0.0
M0.1 0.42 0.1 1.9 1060 600 488 205 0.2
M0.2 0.42 0.2 3.8 1060 600 488 205 0.3
M0.3 0.42 0.3 5.7 1060 600 488 205 0.4
M0.4 0.42 0.4 7.6 1060 600 488 205 0.5
M0.5 0.42 0.5 9.5 1060 600 488 205 0.6
Notation: CA= coarse aggregate, FA= fine aggregate, C= cement, BFs = basalt fiber content, W= water,
MRWR= mid range water reducer (PLASTOL 341).
Preparation of Concrete
The concrete mixtures were prepared using a revolving drum mixer of 100L maximum capacity. The coarse and
fine aggregates were first added and mixed together with a ¼ of the total mixing water for 60 seconds. Then, the
cement was added and the remainder of the mixing water including the superplasticizer dosage was added into the
mixer and the mixture was mixed further for 180 seconds. The same sequence was followed for the mixtures with
fibers, except that the fibers were added before adding the rest of the mixing water and superplasticizer dosage.
The concrete mixtures were mixed for a total time of 6 minutes. Various trial concrete batches were prepared to
obtain the optimum dosage of superplasticizer for use in the BFRNVC mixtures. The mixture quantity was 70L for
all concrete batches.
Casting of Concrete Specimens
A total of six non air-entrained normal vibrated concrete (NVC) mixtures incorporating different basalt fiber
content were cast. Twenty one concrete cylinders (100mm diameter × 200mm height) were cast for each mixture.
Twelve concrete cylinders were tested to measure the compressive strength and nine concrete cylinders were cast
to measure the splitting tensile strength. Three concrete prisms (100mm wide × 100mm deep × 350mm long) were
cast for each mixture to measure the flexural strength and toughness under four-point loading.
Test Procedure
ASTM standards were followed in this study to determine the fresh and mechanical properties of normal
vibrated concrete mixtures with basalt fibers. Fresh properties including: workability (slump), air content and
unit weight were determined using ASTM C143, C231, and C138, respectively [10-12]. The mechanical
properties including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural performance were determined using
ASTM C39, C496, and C1609, respectively [13-15].
IV. TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Workability
The workability of the BFRNVC mixtures was measured using the slump test according to ASTM C143. The
relationship between the slump and the basalt fibres content are presented in Table 3. The target slump values
ranged between 160 mm and 180 mm. All mixtures were within the design slump. Referring to Table 3, as the
basalt fibre content increased, an increase in HRWR content was needed to maintain good workability.
Air Content and Unit Weight
The air content and unit weight were determined according to ASTM C231 and ASTM C138, respectively. The
air content of the BFRNVC mixtures ranged between 1.2 to 3.3%, as shown in Table 3. The BFRNVC mixtures

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ICESA 2014
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were designed to be non-air entrained with an entrapped air content of 2%. The air content results indicate that
all concrete mixtures were located within the ASTM limits which are between 1 to 3%. The unit weights of the
freshly BFRNVC mixtures were ranged between 2830 to 2700 kg/m3 as indicated in Table 3. There were a slight
decrease in unit weight as the basalt fibres increased; due to the fact that basalt fibres were the lightest
component in the concrete mixtures.
Table 3. Results of fresh properties of BFRNVC mixtures
Slump Entrapped air Unit weight
Concrete mix BFs (vol.%) (KN/m3)
(mm) content (%)
M0.0 0.0 175 1.2 2830
M0.1 0.1 185 3.1 2763
M0.2 0.2 180 3.3 2740
M0.3 0.3 190 2.1 2720
M0.4 0.4 150 2.1 2700
M0.5 0.5 180 2.4 2700
Compressive Strength
The compressive strength was determined according to ASTM C39. The compressive strength test results for the
different concretes (mixtures M0.0 to M0.5) at different ages (3, 7, 14 and 28 days) are shown in Figure 2 and
table 4. It is evident that, as the basalt fiber content increased the compressive strength increased (compressive
strength increased by about 6% to 18% comparing with control mixture without fibers). Mixture M0.3 showed
the highest value of compressive strength within all mixtures which is 58 MPa.

Table 4. Results of mechanical properties of BFRNVC mixtures

Flexural
BF Compressive Splitting tensile toughness
Concrete mix strength
(vol. %) strength (MPa) strength (MPa) (N-mm)
(MPa)
day 3 7 14 28 7 14 28 28 28
M0.0 0.0 31 36 44 49 3.3 3.6 3.6 4.4 1650
M0.1 0.1 42 47 49 56 3.3 3.8 4.2 6.4 3000
M0.2 0.2 42 49 56 57 3.4 3.8 4.3 7.0 3625
M0.3 0.3 43 45 57 58 3.5 3.9 4.5 6.1 1750
M0.4 0.4 40 47 51 52 3.6 4.1 4.7 6.1 2500
M0.5 0.5 40 40 48 52 3.6 4.1 4.8 7.0 3600
Splitting Tensile Strength
The splitting tensile strength was determined according to ASTM C496/C496M-04. The splitting tensile
strength for different BFRNVC mixtures (mixes M0.0 to M0.5) at different concrete ages (7, 14, 28 days) is
illustrated in Figure 3 and table 4. It can be concluded that increasing basalt fiber content resulted in increasing
splitting tensile strength. Splitting tensile strength increased by about 5% to 33% comparing with control mixture
without fiber. This increase in splitting tensile strength can be attributed to the basalt fibers reduced the crack
growth and led to higher failure loads. Once the load was applied, the cracks started to appear and the concrete
cylinder started to split in two parts. The fibers created a bridge through the split portions of the cylinder and

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ICESA 2014
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prevented the two parts from splitting. It is evident from table 4 that the optimum mixture is M0.3 (0.3% fibers).
These results suggest that, based on splitting tensile strength, the economic basalt fiber content is 0.3%.
Flexural Strength
The flexural strength or modulus of rupture was determined using the flexural performance test according to
ASTM C1609/C1609M-10. Deflection was determined using the average reading of two LVDTs. The modulus of
rupture results for all concrete mixtures is illustrated in Figure 4 and table 4. The modulus of rupture for the
concrete mixtures ranged from 4.4 MPa to 7 MPa. Mixture M0.2 (0.2% fibers content) had the highest modulus of
rupture, while mixture M0.0 (0% fibers content) had the lowest modulus of rupture. It can be concluded that
increasing basalt fiber content resulted in increasing modulus of rupture. Modulus of rupture increased by about
38% to 61% comparing with control mixture without fiber. It is evident that, basalt fibers content of 0.2% gave the
optimum modulus of rupture for the BFRNVC mixtures. Fibers were able to reduce the crack opening. The
increased number of fibers that crossed the fracture surface also increases the modulus of rupture. The optimum
percentage for the BFRNVC mixtures that gave good results in the modulus of rupture ranged between 0.2% fibers
by volume.
Load-Deflection curve
The load-deflection (P-Δ) response for different concrete mixtures is shown in Figure 4. Deflection was
determined using the average of two LVDT values. The load-deflection curves consisted of a linear curve up to the
peak load and then the curve dropped gradually until the load reached zero. Mixture M0.0 (0% fibres content) had
a brittle post-peak response with a maximum mid-span deflection less than 0.4 mm. Mixtures M0.1 (0.1% fibres
content) to M0.5 (0.5% fibres content) had a slightly better post-peak response with a maximum mid-span
deflection less than 0.6 mm. Most of the mixtures did not reach a deflection of L/150 possibly because of the short
fibres used. However, the deflection at the peak load was identical at the mid-span of 0.06 mm for all BFRNVC
mixtures.

Toughness
The toughness for all mixtures was calculated as the area under the load-deflection curve. The toughness values
for the different BFRNVC mixtures are shown in Figure 4 and table 4. The toughness of the BFRNVC mixtures
ranged from 1650 N-mm to 4125 N-mm. The basalt fibers increased the toughness of the concrete mixture. The
basalt fibers helped the concrete mixtures to absorb more energy as shown in Figure 4. It can be concluded that
increasing basalt fiber content resulted in increasing toughness by about 6% to 119% comparing with control
mixture without fiber. Mixture M0.5 (0.5% fibers content) had the highest toughness of 4125 N-mm, while
mixture M0.0 (0% fibers content) had the lowest toughness of 1650 N-mm. These results suggest that the optimum
fiber content is 0.2% and 0.5%. The number of fibers that cross the crack surface is one of the main reasons to
increase the toughness. Therefore, from a toughness perspective, the optimum fibre content is 0.2% and 0.5%.
V. CONCLUSION
Based on the test results of this study on basalt fibres in normal vibrated concrete, it was found that the optimum
basalt fibre dosage in normal vibrated concrete is 0.3% by volume of concrete. The following specific conclusions
can be drawn:
 The basalt fibers affected the workability which required MRWR to improve the workability of the
concrete;
 Air content in the concrete mixture was affected with the basalt fibers. The mixtures with basalt fibers
showed higher air entrapped air value than the control mixture;
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 ICESA 2014
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
Unit weight of the concrete mixture was decreased as the basalt fibers increased;

Compressive strength at a given concrete age (3, 7, 14, 28 days) increased by 6% to 18% as the basalt
fibre content increased up to 0.3%. All mixtures with basalt fibers were higher than the control. The
maximum increase at a given concrete age was highest at a basalt fibre content of 0.3% and 0.2% then
dropped as the fibre content increased;
 Significant enhancement in splitting tensile strength was observed, where increasing basalt fiber content
increase splitting tensile strength by 5% to 33%;
 Significant enhancement in modulus of rupture (flexural strength) and toughness was observed with
increasing basalt fiber content (61% and 119% respectively).
VI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors sincerely acknowledge the funding received from MAFIC Canada Inc. and for their donation of the
Basalt fibers. Special thanks go to Darryl Muray and Pat Solomon from Hogg ready mix for supplying all other
materials and the mixing facility. The equipment used in this study were purchased by funds from NSERC
Discovery. Special thanks go to technicians in the concrete laboratory at the University of Waterloo for their
support during load testing.
VII. REFERENCES
[1] Kosmatka, S., Kerkhoff, B., and Panarese, W. (2002). Design and control of concrete mixtures, 14th
edition, Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Illinois, USA.
[2] Carlswärd, J. & Emborg, M. (2010). Prediction of stress development and cracking in steel fiber-reinforced
self-compacting concrete overlays due to restrained shrinkage. In: Fiber-Reinforced Self-Consolidating
Concrete: Research and Applications (ACI SP-274) (p.p. 31-50). Detroit, USA: American Concrete
Institute.
[3] Yin J, Wu ZS. (2003). Structural performance of short steel-fiber reinforced concrete beams with
externally bonded FRP sheets. Construction and Building Materials, 17(6-7), 463-470.
[4] Ma, J., Qiu, C., and Wang Y. (2010). Experimental research on the fundamental mechanical properties of
presoaked basalt fiber concrete. The 5th International Conference on FRP Composites in Civil Engineering,
Beijing, China.
[5] Ma, J., Zhang, M., and Zhao, G. (2013). Experimental research on basalt fiber reinforced cementitious
composites. Journal of Mechanics and Materials, 253-255: 533-536.
[6] Zhang, J.Z, Liu, Z.Y., Fu Z., and Zhao J. (2011). Bending resistance of short-chopped Basalt fiber
hydraulic concrete and RC element. Advanced Materials Research, 261-263: 407-410.
[7] Jiang, C., Fan, K., Wu, F., Chen, D. (2014). Experimental study on the mechanical properties and
microstructure of chopped basalt fiber reinforced concrete. Material and Design, 58,187-193.
[8] OPSS 1002 (2011). Material specification for aggregates – concrete. Toronto, Canada: Ministry of
Transportation of Ontario.
[9] ASTM C143/C143M-10. (2010). Standard test method for slump of hydraulic-cement concrete, Annual
Book of ASTM Standards. vol.04.02, Philadelphia (USA): American Society for Testing and Materials.
[10] ASTM C231/C231M-09b. (2010). Standard test method for air content of freshly mixed concrete by the
pressure method, Annual Book of ASTM Standards. vol.04.02, Philadelphia (USA): American Society for
Testing and Materials.
[11] ASTM C138/C138M-10b. (2010). Standard test methods for density (unit weight), yield, and air content
(gravimetric) of concrete, Annual Book of ASTM Standards. vol.04.02, Philadelphia (USA): American
Society for Testing and Materials.
[12] ASTM C39/C39M-09a. (2010). Standard test method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete
specimens, Annual Book of ASTM Standards. vol.04.02, Philadelphia (USA): American Society for
Testing and Materials.
[13] ASTM C496/C496M-04. (2010). Standard test method for splitting tensile strength of cylindrical concrete
specimens, Annual Book of ASTM Standards. vol.04.02, Philadelphia (USA): American Society for
Testing and Materials.
[14] ASTM C1609/C1609M-10. (2010). Standard test method for flexural performance of fiber-
reinforced concrete of cylindrical concrete (using beam with third-point loading), Annual Book of ASTM
Standards. vol.04.02, Philadelphia (USA): American Society for Testing and Materials.

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