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Open access Aug 2026

Synergistic experimental and ANN-based prediction of mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced high-strength concrete

This research focuses on how basalt macrofibers and microfibres affect the durability and Mechanical properties of M60 high-strength concrete. Compressive, split tensile, flexural strength, and acid resistance tests were employed to assess the performance of fiber-reinforced concrete at various fibre volume fractions. The findings demonstrate that the addition basalt fibres greatly enhanced the overall behaviour of concrete compared with the conventional control mix. The greatest compressive strengths were attained at a fibre dosage of 0.75%, reaching 68.42 MPa for microfibres and 63.86 MPa for macrofibres, compared to 58.81 MPa for conventional concrete. Additionally, split tensile strength increased as the fibre content increased to 0.75%, beyond which a slight reduction was observed, likely due to reduced matrix uniformity. Flexural performance showed substantial enhancement, with peak values of 8.78 and 7.88 MPa for microfibre- and macrofibre-reinforced concrete, respectively, demonstrating improved crack resistance and ductile behaviour. Durability evaluation through acid resistance testing revealed comparable performance at the optimum fibre dosage, although a marginal increase in weight loss was observed at higher fibre contents. Microstructural investigations confirmed effective fibre–matrix interaction and crack-bridging mechanisms, while XRD analysis verified the presence of stable crystalline phases that contributed to matrix integrity. Overall, basalt fibre reinforcement enhanced strength, toughness and durability characteristics of concrete. Furthermore, the experimental dataset was integrated with a model of an artificial neural network that accomplished high prediction accuracy. To validate and extend the predictive capability, additional Machine learning approaches were used, and strong agreement was shown with the experimental observations.

Shylaja N, K. Praveen, D. Chethan et al. · 0 citations
Open access Aug 2026

Study on Mechanical Properties and Crack Evolution of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Desert Sand High-Strength Concrete Based on DIC

This study investigates the strength development, crack evolution and toughening mechanism of basalt fiber-reinforced desert sand high-strength concrete. An L9(33) orthogonal design was first used to optimize the reference mixture, after which basalt fibers with volume fractions of 0, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5% were incorporated. Mechanical testing, digital image correlation, SEM, XRD, TG and FTIR were combined to clarify the relationship among fiber dosage, crack propagation and microstructural reinforcement mechanisms. The optimized matrix mixture was obtained with a water-to-binder ratio of 0.32, a desert sand replacement ratio of 40% and a fly ash content of 20%. The incorporation of basalt fiber had little influence on the 28 d compressive strength, whereas the splitting tensile strength was markedly improved. The highest splitting tensile strength was observed in the 0.4% fiber group, reaching 5.46 MPa, which was 12.81% higher than that of the reference mixture. DIC results showed that basalt fiber reduced strain localization and limited crack opening. The 0.5% group had the lowest COD, while the 0.4% group showed a better balance among tensile strength, strain redistribution and crack-opening control. SEM observations showed fiber bridging and fiber–matrix interaction near the fracture region. Meanwhile, XRD, TG-DTG and FTIR showed no obvious changes in the main phases or functional groups, indicating that the improvement was mainly related to the physical crack-control effect of basalt fibers rather than chemical modification of the matrix. Overall, 0.4% basalt fiber was identified as the preferred dosage for the present system.

Peng-Yu Wang, Qiao-Xia An, Ling-Yan Xu et al. · 0 citations
Open access Jul 2026

Experimental Investigation on the Mechanical Performance of Sustainable Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Incorporating Silica Fume and GGBS

The construction industry's reliance on ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is a major contributor to global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, while plain concrete's inherent brittleness and low tensile capacity remain persistent structural limitations. This study presents an experimental investigation into a sustainable hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HFRC) of M30 grade, formulated by partially replacing cement with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS, 20–50% by weight) and silica fume (5–25% by weight), together with a fixed 2% (by volume of coarse aggregate) hybrid dosage of steel and polypropylene fibers. Six mix combinations were cast and evaluated for compressive, flexural, and split tensile strength at 7, 14, 28, and 60 days of water curing. Compressive strength increased consistently with binder replacement up to 50% GGBS and 20% silica fume, after which higher silica fume content (25%) reduced strength due to workability loss and particle agglomeration. The mix containing 50% GGBS, 20% silica fume, and 2% hybrid fiber (designated M5) produced the best overall performance, reaching 36 MPa compressive strength, 5.3 MPa flexural strength, and 4.1 MPa split tensile strength at 28 days, rising further to 40 MPa, 5.7 MPa, and 4.5 MPa respectively at 60 days. Relative to the mix with the lowest replacement level (M1: 20% GGBS, 5% silica fume), mix M5 showed gains of approximately 24% in compressive strength, 29% in flexural strength, and 41% in split tensile strength at 28 days. The results confirm that the combined pozzolanic action of silica fume and GGBS densifies the cementitious matrix, while the hybrid steel–polypropylene fiber system restrains crack propagation and improves post-cracking ductility. The study establishes 50% GGBS with 20% silica fume and 2% hybrid fiber as the optimum replacement level for producing high-performance, low-carbon M30 structural concrete. Keywords: Sustainable concrete; Hybrid fiber reinforcement; Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS); Silica fume; Compressive strength; Flexural strength; Split tensile strength.

Dasari Devika, Dr. Subash Chandra Bose · 0 citations
Open access Aug 2026

Effect of Saltwater Aging on the Mechanical Performance of Polyethylene Matrix Glass, Basalt, and Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Composites

In this study, the long-term mechanical performance of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix composites reinforced with glass, basalt, and glass/basalt hybrid fibers in a marine environment was investigated. Composite specimens produced by the hot-press method were aged in a 3% NaCl saltwater solution for five months. Within the scope of the study, water absorption measurements were performed, and axial tensile and three-point bending tests were conducted. Experimental results showed that mechanical properties decreased across all composite systems due to water diffusion as aging time increased. The highest water absorption was observed in basalt-reinforced composites at 12.85%, while glass-reinforced composites exhibited a more stable mass increase. In tensile tests, hybrid composites demonstrated the highest environmental resistance with a 21.5% loss; however, in flexural tests, the hybrid structure was found to suffer a significant strength loss of 78.2%. Hybridization provides a beneficial effect under tensile loading; however, this advantage does not extend to flexural loading conditions, where the hybrid configuration exhibits a pronounced sensitivity to environmental degradation.

Muhammed Hüseyin Güzel, Tuncay Ateş, G. Önal · 0 citations
Open access Jul 2026

Mechanical and Environmental Performance-based Evaluation of Areca Nut Fiber-reinforced Concrete

The present study investigates the effect of incorporating areca nut fiber as a partial replacement (0.1%-0.5%) of coarse aggregates on the mechanical and environmental performance of concrete. Concrete mixtures incorporating varying proportions of areca nut fiber were prepared and evaluated through compressive strength, split tensile strength, and water absorption tests to examine their mechanical response and moisture transport characteristics. Regression-based curve fitting was further employed to model the relationship between fiber content and strength parameters. In addition, a series of performance indices, namely Compressive Strength Efficiency, Tensile Strength Efficiency, Ductility Index, Relative Water Absorption Index, and Water Absorption Severity Index, were formulated to facilitate integrated performance assessment. A multi-objective performance score was subsequently established to combine strength and durability considerations for identifying the most favorable mixture composition. Concrete performance exhibited a distinct nonlinear dependence on fiber content. Compressive strength reached the greatest improvement, approximately 21% above the control mixture at 0.4% fiber addition, whereas the maximum split tensile strength was observed at 0.2% fiber content owing to improved crack-arresting and stress-transfer mechanisms. In contrast, water absorption increased steadily with increasing fiber dosage, highlighting a trade-off between mechanical enhancement and durability performance. The developed regression models successfully captured the observed trends, while the proposed performance indices provided additional insight into strength utilization, durability implications, and overall material effectiveness. Areca fiber incorporation produced only marginal changes in embodied CO 2 emissions; however, a notable improvement in eco-efficiency was achieved within the optimum fiber content range. The experimental evidence suggests that areca fiber can serve as a viable and environmentally conscious reinforcement material when used in controlled quantities. The benefits associated with strength enhancement and improved crack resistance are most pronounced within a limited dosage range, beyond which the adverse effects of increased permeability become significant. Consequently, performance optimization requires balancing mechanical gains against potential durability concerns. The study confirms that areca fiber-reinforced concrete can achieve enhanced mechanical performance and improved eco-efficiency without substantially increasing environmental burden. However, the increase in water absorption at higher fiber dosages highlights the need to identify an optimum fiber content that balances strength, durability, and long-term performance.

Amit Kumar · 0 citations
Open access Jul 2026

Optimizing the Composition of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Airfield Pavements to Improve Performance and Prevent Cracking

Concrete airfield pavements often experience premature failure due to extensive cracking under repeated loading and environmental exposure. Traditional single-scale fiber reinforcement methods have proven inadequate in controlling both micro- and macro-cracks, prompting the need for hybrid solutions. This study investigates the mechanical and durability performance of concrete reinforced with hybrid combinations of micro basalt and macro basalt fibers. The main objectives were to evaluate the synergistic effects of dual-scale fiber reinforcement on crack resistance, elasticity, density, and water-related durability properties, and to determine the optimal fiber combination for high-performance pavement concrete. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted involving 25 concrete mixes with varying proportions of micro basalt and macro basalt fibers. Parameters such as elastic modulus, dry and saturated density, water absorption, and moisture content were measured and analyzed. The methodology employed standard mechanical testing protocols and statistical comparisons to identify trends and correlations. Results revealed that combinations such as 1.5A1.5B and 1.5A0.5B achieved superior elasticity (up to 53.65 GPa) and optimal balance across densities and water absorption. While fiber inclusion had minimal influence on compressive strength, basalt fibers significantly improved tensile and flexural behavior, toughness, and resistance to environmental degradation. The hybrid mixes demonstrated reduced porosity and water absorption, enhancing long-term durability. In conclusion, dual-scale hybrid fiber reinforcement offers a viable strategy for enhancing crack control, elasticity, and durability in concrete airfield pavements. It is recommended that future pavement designs incorporate optimized micro basalt and macro basalt fibers combinations to extend service life, reduce maintenance, and promote sustainable infrastructure development.

Q. A. Qais, G. Okolnikova, S. Yazyev et al. · 0 citations

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