Effect of Basalt Fibers on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of MB Modifier based High-Strength Concrete

Basalt fibers (BF) have become intriguing nowadays for infrastructural and civil engineering applications due to the concern about mechanical properties, thermal and chemical resistance, and also environmental friendliness. Mass production of high-strength concrete (HSC) in Russia is mainly associated with the use of organomineral modifiers of the MB series, containing in their composition microsilica, fly ash, hardening regulator and superplasticizer C-3 in different ratios. In our study we produced HSC specimens (without BF, and with 1 wt.% chopped BF) using the modifier MB10-30, with the dimensions of 100x100x100 mm and 100x100x400 mm. The compressive strength, the tensile strength at bending, the strength at axial tension and the cracking moment, at the curing periods of 7, 14, 28, 60 days, have been determined. The results showed that the inclusion of BF in MB modifier based HSC resulted in a decrease in the compressive strength, however, significantly enhanced its tensile behavior.