ENHANCING THE FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE BEAMS USING BASALT FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER

This study investigates the enhancement of flexural strength of high-performance concrete (HPC) beams using basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) embedded internally at different depths. Four types of beam samples were tested: BFRP placed directly on the bottom (CB0), and BFRP placed at 0.75 cm (CB0.75), 1.25 cm (CB1.25), and 2.25 cm (CB2.25) from the bottom. The concrete mixture, which resembled ultra-high-performance concrete, included binder, fine and coarse aggregates, glass powder, microsilica, and a plasticizer. The results showed that BFRP significantly improved the flexural strength and ductility compared to the control samples without BFRP reinforcement. Optimum performance was achieved by placing the BFRP at 1.25 cm from the bottom (CB1.25), which demonstrated an increase in flexural strength by 1088% (653 kN/m2) and displacement by 0.225 mm compared to the control samples, indicating a balanced distribution of strength and stress. Large distances (e.g., CB2.25) reduce the effectiveness, highlighting the importance of BFRP proximity to tension zones. © 2025, Institute of Mechanics of Continua and Mathematical Sciences. All rights reserved.