Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fibre Reinforced Concrete

Concrete is very strong in compression but very weak in tension. However it is reported that tensile and bending strength of concrete is 10 to 15 % of the compressive strength respectively. The addition of different types of fibres in concrete have significantly improves its compressive as well as tensile strength. Among the new advancement in field of FRC is the basalt fibre reinforced concrete. In the present study basalt chopped fibres were used in the concrete mixes and compressive and flexural strength of the specimens were tested. A total of 5 mixes were prepared by varying the percentages of basalt fibres on M 25 grade of concrete mix. Based on the laboratory results the compressive and flexural strength was reported to increase up to 46 % and 74 %. However the workability of fresh concrete mixes is not much affected by the addition of fibre content. The flexural strength of concrete is improved which shows the wide application of basalt fibres in concrete mixes for construction in various fields i. e railway, bridges, runway and tunnels.