Effect of aggregates on the technological and mechanical properties of glass and basalt fibres reinforced concrete

Abstract

Reinforcement of high performance concrete (HPC) with glass and basalt fibres is becoming more widely used due to their high mechanical properties, sustainable manufacturing process and wide range of application in architectural and urban design. Properties of HPC composites are mainly determined by matrix composition, fibre type, volume and distribution in the concrete matrix. Granulometry and shape of aggregates has a major impact on the technological properties of concrete mix, such as water bleeding and slump size. Current study is focused on investigation of HPC reinforced by glass and basalt fibres with aggregates of different types. Quartz sand and crushed granite were used as aggregates. Two matrix compositions were used, both having proportion 1:1 of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and total amount of aggregate. In the first case, the whole aggregate was quartz sand, and for the second it was 50% quartz sand and 50% crushed granite. For matrix reinforcement, 3% of alkali resistant glass fibres and 1.5% chopped basalt from total weight of dry materials were used. 1% from cement mass of polycarboxylate ether-based superplasticizer was used to increase workability of concrete mix. The consistency of mixtures decreased, but flexural strength increased approximately by 13% when 50% of quartz sand was replaced with crushed granite for concrete with both types of fibres.