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ABSTRACT: In the present study, BFRP rebars for internal concrete reinforcement and wet lay-ups for external rehabilitation have been systematically characterized on the basic physicochemical properties and durability performance of the BFRP materials subjected to hygrothermal ageing, freeze-thaw cycles and elevated temperatures. The basic mechanical performances of BFRP are tested according to ACI 440.3R, which
indicates the better modulus and stiffness than GFRP, but inferior to CFRP. Hygrotheral ageing in distilled
water and alkaline solution immersion leads to deterioration of both mechanical and thermal properties. The
water uptake and thermal properties due to the long term immersion ageing were performed to understand the
degradation mechanisms. After extreme freeze-thaw cycles ranging from -30oC to 30oC, no adverse effects
were found for the properties of BFRP and the bonding between BFRP and concrete blocks. The elevated
temperature leads the mechanical properties BFRP rebars to be reduced remarkably. The residual properties
exceed the half room temperature values at the temperature much higher than the glass transition temperature
of the system. Compared to the CFRP and GFRP, the promising properties of the BFRP rebar and wet lay-up
clearly illustrates the high potential for the application in civil engineering.
1 INTRODUCTION
As a novel reinforcement, basalt fibers are produced directly from basalt rock through a melting
process with high mechanical properties and chemical resistance (Sim, Park et al. 2005). Compared to
the commonly used carbon fiber reinforced polymer
(CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP),
basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) composites
possess many advantages, such as relative low price,
excellent mechanical and thermal properties, good
chemical resistance, and environmental friendly, etc.
Since BFRP has been applied in civil engineering
only for several years, the comprehensive knowledge of the BFRP from the basic physicochemical
properties to the long term durability in various civil
environments is not completely understood yet. As
known, a comprehensive knowledge of basalt fiber
and BFRP in terms of basic physic-chemical properties, long term durability under various civil environments, freeze-thaw cycle resistance as well elevated temperature resistance, is prerequisite for its
acceptance in the field.
In the past several years, some works have been
conducted on the performance and application of
BFRP composites in structural strengthening, rehabilitation etc. (Sim, Park et al. 2005; Cerny, Glogar
et al. 2007; Deak and Czigany 2008; Wang, Zhang
et al. 2008; Yongsheng, Zhishen et al. 2009). Some
2 EXPERIMENTAL
2.1 Materials
An epoxy resin system, including epoxy resin and
hardeners, is developed at our lab used for saturation
of fiber clothes to strengthen, repair and rehabilitate
concrete or other civil engineering structures. This
epoxy resin system has a low viscosity, and thus can
easily saturate a fiber fabric completely. The resin
can be cured at room temperature, and reaches a
high deflection temperature (>80oC).
Unidirectional basalt fiber fabrics are commercially
available in China. As indicated, the fiber diameter
is 13 micron; the area density of the fabric is 360
g/m2; tensile strength is 2.1GPa and modulus is
105GPa.
Figure 1. BFRP wet layup plate. The white edge is cured extra
epoxy resin.
weighted using an electronic balance with an accuracy of 0.01 mg. The presented data are an average
for 10 coupons for each condition.
Tensile properties of aged samples were tested
using the same procedure as un-aged samples.
The elevated temperature performance of BFRP
specimens were conducted on BFRP bar only. One
set of samples were tested at elevated temperatures,
while one another set of samples were tested after
elevated temperature treatment for pre-determined
period.
3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Basic properties of BFRP composites
Table 1 & 2 present the basic tensile properties of
BFRP wet lay ups and bars. For comparison, similar
GFRP and CFRP materials from renown companies
in the world.
As shown in Table 1, BFRP wet layups exhibit a
slightly higher tensile strength (by 5%) and modulus
(by 11%) than GFRP, but much lower than CFRP. In
addition, both BFRP and GFRP have an elongation
at break 2.2%, much higher than that of CFRP, ~
1%.
Table 1. Comparison of tensile properties of BFRP, GFRP and
CFRP wet layups.
Tensile
Tensile
Elongation
modulus
strength
(%)
(GPa)
(MPa)
BFRP
602.9
29.7
2.2
GFRP*
575
26.1
2.2
CFRP*
986
95.8
1
Note, GFRP and CFRP are referred to Tyfo SEH 51A and
Tyfo SCH 41 composites from Fyfe Co LLC
(www.fyfeco.com).
Similar results are also found for BFRP bars (Table 2). BFRP possesses much higher modulus compared to GFRP and a closed strength. Both GFRP
and BFRP bars show remarkable inferior to CFRP in
tensile properties.
Figure 5. Pull-off testing of BFRP-concrete block with a pulloff testing machine on the left bottom.
to the immersion ageing, showing a remarkable decrease even in the first month immersion. This indicates that the fiber surface modification for improved adhesion of resin to the fibers, and resin
modification with improved water insulation, should
be conducted for better immersion ageing performance.
The basic mechanical properties, freeze-thaw resistance, immersion resistance as well as elevated temperature performance of BFRP bar and wet layups
were systematically studied in the present paper. As
shown, BFRP composites possess promising mechanical and durability characteristics, which are essential for the application of a new material in civil
engineering field.
5 PREFERENCES
Cerny, M., P. Glogar, et al. (2007). "Comparison of mechanical properties and structural changes of continuous
basalt and glass fibres at elevated temperatures." Ceramics-Silikaty 51(2): 82-88.
Deak, T. and T. Czigany (2008). "Investigation of basalt fiber
reinforced polyamide composites." Materials Science,
Testing And Informatics Iv 589: 7-12.
Sim, J., C. Park, et al. (2005). "Characteristics of basalt fiber as
a strengthening material for concrete structures."
Composites Part B-Engineering 36(6-7): 504-512.
Wang, M. C., Z. G. Zhang, et al. (2008). "Chemical durability
and mechanical properties of alkali-proof basalt fiber
and its reinforced epoxy composites." Journal Of Reinforced Plastics And Composites 27(4): 393-407.
Yongsheng, T., W. Zhishen, et al. (2009). "Development of
self-sensing BFRP bars with distributed optic fiber
sensors." Proceedings of the SPIE - The International
Society for Optical Engineering: 729317 (10 pp.).