IAETSD JOURNAL FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH IN APPLIED SCIENCES ISSN NO: 2394-8442

Fracture behavior of concrete reinforced with basalt fibers

Mohammed Ishtiyaque#1, M.G. Shaikh *2
#*Applied Mechanics Department, Govt. College of Engineering, Aurangabad -Maharashtra
1 ishtiyaque2011@rediffmail.com, 2mohummadshaikh@gmail.com

Abstract In present study an attempt is made to study the effect of addition of basalt fibers on various fracture
properties of concrete. Normal strength concrete was cast by using water to cement ratio as 0.38 and a total of five
mixtures were prepared by using basalt fibers (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 &1% by volume of concrete) into those concretes. Three
point bending test were conducted on notched beams to study fracture properties such as fracture energy, fracture
toughness (KIC) and critical tip opening displacements (CTODC) of different concrete mixes. Test results showed an
improvement in tensile strength and fracture properties of basalt fiber reinforced concrete mixes when compared with
control mix. Tensile strength was enhanced by 11 % with addition of 0.25% basalt fibers. Fracture toughness was also
enhanced by 402% & 269 % with addition of 0.25% and 0.75% basalt fibers. However inclusion of basalt fibers resulted in
reduction in the workability and compressive strength of concrete mixture with increasing fiber contents. 25 % decrease in
compressive strength was observed with addition of 1% BF when compared with control mix.

Keywords Basalt fibers, Fracture energy, Fracture toughness, Critical tip opening displacement.

I. INTRODUCTION
Basalt is a volcanic igneous rock which exhibits good performance in terms of strength, temperature range, and durability.
Basalt fibers (BF) are obtained from basalt rocks through melting process. Basalt fibers have good resistance to chemical
attach, impact load and fire with less poisonous fumes. Due to its lower cost and high tensile strength BF could be a
suitable replacement for steel, glass, and carbon fibers in many applications. Previous research works on use of BF in
concrete is limited. Concrete is the most widely used construction materials all around the world. Concrete is strong in
compression, is full of defects like voids, air pockets, lack of bond between aggregates & cement paste and cracks.
Therefore it is highly heterogeneous material with low tensile strength, low strain capacity in tension and low cracking
resistance. Hence it is prone to fracture and fails in a brittle manner without warning when tensile stresses exceed tensile
strength of concrete [1], [2].

Addition of fibers in concrete matrix improves its various fracture properties such as fracture energy, fracture toughness
and critical crack mouth opening displacement. Fibers control initiation and propagation of cracks in concrete through
bridging action during both micro and macro-cracking of the matrix. This mechanism increases the demand of energy for
cracks to propagate. Therefore the overall fracture behavior of concrete is improved [3]-[5]. The purpose of present study
was to evaluate the various fracture parameters such as fracture energy (Gf),fracture toughness (Critical stress intensity
factor-KIC) and critical crack mouth opening displacement (CMODC) of normal strength concrete reinforced with
different volume fractions of basalt fibers (0%,0.25,0.5,0.75 and 1%) by volume.

II. EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

A. Materials and Mix Proportions

The materials used in this research includes basalt coarse aggregates with a particle density of 1560 kg/m3,Godavari river
sand with a particle density of 1750 kg/m3,cement ,super plasticizer and basalt fibers. Maximum particle size of the coarse
aggregate, river sand was 20mm and 4.75 mm respectively.

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IAETSD JOURNAL FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH IN APPLIED SCIENCES ISSN NO: 2394-8442

The type of cement used in all concrete mixes was Portland pozzolana confirming to IS: 1489-1991 (Part 1) of Ultra Tech
brand and its properties are presented in Table I. A naphthalene based super plasticizer was also used. Basalt fibers with a
density of 2.63 g/cm3 and a length of 24 mm were used throughout the study at varying contents. Physical and mechanical
properties of BF, provided by the manufacturer, are presented in Table II.

TABLE I
PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT
Physical Properties
Specific gravity 3.15
Standard consistency (%) 32
Initial setting time (minutes) 270
Final setting time (minutes) 350

Volume expansion (mm) 1.0

Fineness (m2/kg) 348

28 days compressive strength (MPa) 55

TABLE II
PROPERTIES OF BASALT FIBERS
Length Diameter Tensile Strength Density Elastic Thermal Conductivity
(mm) (m) (MPa) (g/cm )3 Modulus
(GPa)
24 16 3200-3850 2.63 93 0.031 0.038 w/mk

B. Sample Preparation & Testing Procedure

In order to determine the effect of BF addition on compressive strength and split tensile strength, cube specimens with
dimensions of 150 mm were cast. Density of fresh concrete was determined by using 150mm cube specimens. In addition
to this, 15 notched beam specimens (3 for each mixture) with dimensions of 100 mmx120 mmx525 mm and with a notch
of depth 30 mm and thickness 3mm were tested by three point loading to determine the fracture energy (Gf), critical stress
intensity factor (KIC) and critical mouth opening displacement (CMODc), as illustrated in Fig.1.Before performing
hardened concrete tests at 90 days, all specimens were cured in water at 27 C0.

Compressive and split tensile strength each was determined on three 150mm cubic specimens for each mixture as per IS:
516-1959. The notches in the beam specimens were formed using 3 mm thick steel plates in the wooden moulds. The
deflection, evaluated in the proximity of the notch on the lower side of the test specimen and crack mouth opening
displacement (CMOD) of the notch was measured using distance sensors mounted on stand and steel frames. During the
test, load, deflection and CMOD were recorded continuously using data logger. The experimental setup for fracture test is
shown in Fig.1.

Thus from the recorded data, load versus deflection and load versus CMOD curves were obtained for each specimen. The
fracture energy (Gf) was determined by using the procedures recommended by RILEM 50-FMC-Technical Committee.
Critical stress intensity factor (KIC) and CMODc were determined using the procedures recommended by RILEM 89
FMC-Technical Committee and two parameter model of Jenq and Shah (1989).

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Fig. 1. Experimental Set up for fracture test

TABLE III
MIX PROPORTIONS & PROPERTIES OF FRESH CONCRETE MIXTURES
Concrete Cement w/c Coarse River SP Basalt Fiber Slump Fresh
MIxtures (kg/m3) Ratio Aggregate Sand Content (mm) Density
(kg/m ) (kg/m ) (kg/m )
3 3 3 By Volume
(%) (kg/m3)
C 367 0.38 1222 770 5.23 0 60 2399
B25 367 0.38 1222 770 5.23 0.25 45 2405
B50 367 0.38 1222 770 5.23 0.50 32 2411
B75 367 0.38 1222 770 5.23 0.75 20 2417
B100 367 0.38 1222 770 5.23 1.00 10 2423

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A. Workability

Slump values of the concrete mixes are presented in Table III .It is found that addition of basalt fibers reduces the
workability of concrete as some quantity of mixing water and cement paste is utilized for coating the surface of fibers.
Hence higher doses of super plasticizer were required for basalt fiber reinforced concrete mixes. Density of fresh concrete
was determined by using 150mm cube specimens. Density of fresh concrete mixes is also shown in Table III.

B. Physical Properties

The average values of bulk dry density are presented in Table IV.

C. Compressive, Tensile Strength & Fracture Properties

The average values of compressive and split tensile strength of concrete mixes are given in Table IV.The compressive
strength of the mixtures varied between 36.78 & 48.63 MPa. Where the lowest value belongs to B100 mixture. The split
tensile strength of the mixtures varied between 2.14 & 3.05 MPa.Where the highest value belong to mix B25 and lowest
value for B100 mixture.

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The average values of fracture energy and fracture toughness of concrete mixes are given in Table IV.The fracture energy
of the mixtures varied between 0.16 & 1.37 N/mm.Where as the highest value belong to mix B25 and lowest value for
mixture B75.Load versus mid-span deflection curves for prismatic specimens are shown in Fig.2.

The fracture energy obtained on normal strength concrete was compared to the fracture energy obtained by other
researchers for self compacting concrete and normal strength concrete. (Fig.4).

The fracture toughness of the mixtures varied between 85.64 & 180.32 MPa mm1/2.Where as the highest value belongs to
mix B25 and lowest value for mixture B100. Load versus CMOD curves for prismatic specimens are shown in Fig.3.
.
TABLE IV
MECHANICAL TEST RESULTS OF CONCRETE MIXTURES
Concrete Vfa fcb ftc Gfd KICe CMODcf
Mixtures (%) (MPa) (MPa) (N/mm) (MPa.mm1/2) (mm)

C 0 48.74 2.75 1.25 35.89 0.0133

B25 0.25 44.22 3.05 1.37 180.32 0.1449
B50 0.5 48.63 2.39 0.15 106.80 0.0495
B75 0.75 47.30 2.27 0.50 132.59 0.0874
B100 1.0 36.78 2.14 0.61 85.64 0.0241

a Volumetric fraction of fibers b Average compressive strength c Average splitting tensile strength d Fracture energy
e Critical stress intensity factor for mode I cracking f Critical crack mouth opening displacement

Fig. 2 Load-deflection curves in fracture test

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Fig. 3 Load-CMOD curves in fracture test

Fig. 4 Comparison of fracture energy obtained by authors and other researchers

IV. CONCLUSIONS
The main conclusions of the study may be summarized as follows:
The addition of 1% BF resulted in 25% and 22% reduction in the compressive and splitting tensile strength over the
control mix, respectively. As fiber percentage increased, the probability of these fibers balling together and leaving
voids in the matrix was greater.
The addition of BF resulted in reduction in the workability of concrete mixture with increasing fiber contents.
Addition of BF resulted in significant enhancement of splitting tensile strength of concrete mixtures by about 11%
over the control mix.
Fracture toughness was significantly enhanced by using BF. The maximum increase in fracture toughness was
observed in mix B25 and B75 as 402% and 269 % respectively, when compared to control mixture.
Fracture energy was also enhanced by using BF. Basalt fiber reinforced concrete mixtures showed higher ultimate
loads at 0.25% BF content. The maximum increase in fracture energy was observed in mix B25.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
T Technical support of S.J. Karkare sir, proprietor of Sigma Industries, Pune (M.S.) for providing devoted data-logger
along with distance sensors and help from technicians of concrete technology & strength of material laboratories of
Government Engineering College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India and time to time encouragement by Nissar khan sir, in
charge, heavy structures laboratory, IIT Mumbai are greatly appreciated.

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[8] U. Abbas, Materials development of steel-and basalt fiber-reinforced concretes, M. Eng. thesis, Norwegian University of Science And
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[9] RILEM Recommendation, Determination of fracture parameters of plain concrete using three-point bend tests, Mater Struct, vol. 23, pp.
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[10] ACI Committee 544, Measurement of properties of fiber reinforced concrete, ACI Material Journal, vol. 85, pp. 583-593, 1988.

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