ANALYSIS AND TESTING OF

BASALT FIBRE REINFORCED

CONCRETE

A
Project Report submitted in partial fulfillment
for the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
in
CIVIL ENGINEERING
by
SHIVAM KUMAR SINGH
SHARANYA SHUKLA
ANKITA SINGH
AVNI TIWARI
MAZ ALI
under the Guidance of
PROFESSOR J.K. VARSHNEY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
 Content
1. Abstract

2. Introduction

3. Literature Review

4. Methodology

5. Applications of Basalt fibre

6. Future Work

7. Expected Outcomes

8. Future Scope

9. References
 ABSTRACT
This paper present the art of knowledge of basalt
fibre, it is relatively new material. This experiment
study aimed to investigate the compressive,
flexural, and split tensile strength of basalt fibre
reinforced concrete.
Concrete has good future and is unlikely to get
replaced by any other material on account of its
ease to produce, infinite variability ,uniformity
,durability and economy with using of basalt fibre
in high strength of concrete.
Basalt fiber offers more characteristics such as
light weight, good fire resistance and strength.

Basalt fibre has gained popularity in concrete

reinforcing applications due to its excellent
mechanical properties and an environmentally
friendly manufacturing process. Mechanical
performance was evaluated by measuring the
effect of the fibres on the pre- and post cracking
behaviour of concrete, and by investigating how
the fibre-concrete interfacial properties influenced
that behavior

In future it is very beneficial for construction

industry. Many applications of basalt fibre are
residential, industrial, highway and bridges etc. In
this study trial test for concrete with basalt fiber
and without basalt fiber are conducted to show the
difference in compressive strength and flexural
strength by using cubes and concrete beams.
 INTRODUCTION

Concrete is arguably the most widely used

construction material in the world.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that a vast
amount of research has been undertaken to
enhance its performance; making it possible to
build larger, safer, and more economical structures
that are durable in a wider range of environments.
Concrete is a compound material made from sand,
gravel and cement. The cement is a mixture of
various minerals which when mixed with water,
hydrate and rapidly become hard binding the sand
and gravel
into a solid mass. The oldest known surviving
concrete is to be found in the former Yugoslavia
and was thought to have been laid in 5,600 BC
using red lime as the cement.

Basalt fiber is a high performance non-metallic

fiber made from basalt rock melted at high
temperature. Basalt rock can also make basalt
rock, chopped basalt fiber, basalt fabrics and
continuous filament wire.
Basalt fiber originates from volcanic magma and
volcanoes, a very hot fluid or semi fluid material
under the earth’s crust, solidified in the open air.
Basalt is a common term used for a variety of
volcanic rock, which are gray dark in color.

Basalt rock fibers have no toxic reaction with air or

water, are non combustible and explosion proof.
When in contact with other chemicals they
produce no chemical reaction that may damage
health or the environment. Basalt fiber has good
hardness and thermal properties. Basalt fibers
have been successfully used for foundation such
as slabs on ground concrete.

Basalt fiber is a material made from extremely fine

fibers of basalt, which is composed of the minerals
plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine. Plagioclase is
an important series of minerals within the feldspar
family.
 Literature Review
The first use of basalt fibre was reported in 1998 in
the report published in U.S.A for the Highway
Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA)
Project45. The results were presented using
maximum fiber volume as 0.5 %fibre and
prominent features attributed to Basalt Fiber
Reinforced Concrete were higher energy
absorption
Basalt is defined by its mineral content and
texture, and physical descriptions without
mineralogical context may be unreliable in some
circumstances. Basalt is usually grey to black in
colour, but rapidly weathers to brown or rust-red
due to oxidation of its mafic (iron-rich) minerals
into rust. Although usually characterized as "dark",
basaltic rocks exhibit a wide range of shading due
to regional geochemical processes. Due to
weathering or high concentrations of plagioclase,
some basalt rocks are quite light coloured,
superficially resembling rhyolite to untrained eyes.
Basalt has a fine-grained mineral texture due to
the molten rock cooling too quickly for large
mineral crystals to grow, although it is often
porphyritic, containing the larger crystals formed
prior to the extrusion that brought the lava to the
surface, embedded in a finer-grained matrix.
Typical types of fibre used are steel acrylic
asbestothese, glass, xylon, polyethene ,
prolypropylene , rayon, rock, wool and so on.
These fibre are available in round , flat and
defomrd forms.
Steel fibres are most commonly used in different
structural element in various zones. The basalt
rock fibre can be used as an admixture in chopped
forms as well as bars of varying diameter.
A Significant growth is observed in the
manufacturing of composite materials. Intensively
developed polymer composite materials (PCM) are
used in different sectors of industry and
technology. They are successfully replacing
traditionally construction material and also permit
the condition that exclude use of metals. One of
the basic reinforcing element of composite
materials in fibres. Glass fibers are widely used for
making composites : carbon fibers are among the
most effective and promising reinforcing fibers for
creating PCM used in conditions of high loads. By
producing of glass fibres specially scarce
components are used – oxideboron(B2O3).Carbon
fibers are there high cost have no prospects of
mass application.

In 1910, porter put the idea that concrete

can be strengthened by the inclusion of fibers. Till
1963; there was only slow progress on fibre
reinforced concrete (FRC). Romualdi and Batson
gave rise to FRC by conducting numerous
experimental works to determine the basic
engineering properties such as compressive,
tensile strength FRC.

Basalt fibers have been used in construction and

civil projects since the last two decades. They are
used as reinforcements, corrosions resistant
materials, insulators etc.
Since 2004 the applicability of basalt fibres as a
strengthening for concrete structural materials has
been studied for durability, mechanical properties
and flexural strength.
It was established that the surface treatment of
basalt fiber with silanes improved the adhesion to
the matrix, reflected also in the bending strength
of the composites. Single basalt fibre treated
with3-aminopropyltriethoxy-silane and
dimethoxysilane increased the interfacial shear
strength.
In 2005 Hungarian scientists used Basalt filaments
incorporated unidirectional rods as the
reinforcement of concrete slabs in hydraulic
engineering and construction in seismically
hazardous regions.
In 2009 it was found that Basalt fibers exhibit
catastrophic failures at specific places depending
upon the critical defect size present in the fibers.
Since the defects are present randomly in the
fibers, this also leads to mutually independent,
multiple failures.

Nowadays, Basalt fibres are widely used in

construction of pavements, road blocks and as roof
shelter material.
Historically, fibres were used to reinforced the
brittle material since ancient times, straws were
used to reinforce sun-baked bricks, horse hairs
were used to reinforce plaster and asbestos fibers
were used to reinforce cement.
Typical types of fibers used are steel, acrylic
asbestons, glass, xylon, polyester, polyethylene,
polypropylene, rayon, rock wool and so on. Steel
fibres are available in round, flat, and deformed
forms. Steel fibers were used in different
structural elements in various zones and
investigated its performance. Nowadays synthetic
fibers have become more attractive and used for
the reinforcement of cementations materials.
‘Fiber Reinforced Cement’ as a material made from
hydraulic cement and discrete, discontinuous
fibers (containing no aggregate). “Fiber reinforced
concrete” (FRC) is made with hydraulic cement,
aggregates of various sizes, in cooperating
discrete, discontinuous fibers. Both are firmly
established as a new construction material.
Steel fibres and synthetic fibres find applications in
civil engineering on a larger scale by virtue of their
inherent advantages; it is of interest to note that
the performance of concrete can be enhanced
through the employment of these micro-
reinforcements in a hybrid form. The volume of
data available on the performance studies of
hybrid fiber reinforced concrete appears to be
inadequate for a better understanding the
investigation, it is proposed to combine these
fibers at different proportions in the beam
structural elements and engineering properties
and performance are being investigated

Physical Properties Colour:- It is available

in golden brown in color. Diameter:- It is available
in different diameter like 5.8 micron. Length:-
Available in 6mm,8mm,12mm etc. Density:-
density of basalt fibre is 2.75 g/cm˄3 Coefficient of
friction:- The coefficient of friction may be between
0.42 to 0.50.
Chemical Properties Basalts are more stable
in strong alkalis. Weight loss in boiling water, Alkali
and acid is also significantly lower. Possess
resistance to UV- Light & biologic and fungal
contamination. Are compatible with phenolic
resins. Absorption of humidity comes to less.

Thermal Properties With a thermal range of –

260 ◦C to 982 ◦C and melt point of 1450◦C as well
as low thermal conductivity 0.031- 0.038w/mk, the
basalt fibers are ideal for fire protection and
insulation applications. Basalt fibers are most cost
effective than the other high-temper Materials
including E-glass, silica, ceramics, stainless steel
and carboby preventing rapid overheating and
improving brake life. Offer three times the thermal
efficiency of asbestos with no Mental and heat
hazards. Basalt fiber is the best solution for
asbestos replacement. Basalt fiber is non-
combustible and explosion proof. After exposition
less than 400 ◦C the basalt fibers loss on their
initial strength, while the E-glass loss more 50%.

Mechanical Properties:- The specific

tenacity (rupture stress to density ratio) of basalt
fibers exceeds that of steel, many times. Basalt
fibers are non-capillary and non-hygroscopic,
giving good moisture resistance. Basalt has shot
content generally less than 3%.
Some Uses of Basalt Fibre are
as follows :-
 It is used as a Natural form as a Paving and
Building Stone.
 Basalt is known for its excellent
mechanical properties, resistance to
moisture absorption, resistance to
corrosive liquids and environments,
durability in service and great versatility.
 Basalt can be used in tubes, bars ,pipes
fittings, internal heat and sound insulation
of floors, walls, frame walls, boiler shells,
tanks, chimneys, fire protection structures,
etc due to its strong applications in
construction materials.
 It is use as a Heat protection.
 It is use a Friction materials
 It is use a Windmill blades
 High-quality basalt roving, fabrics and
chopped strands are used in the production
of CNG cylinders, brake pads, mufflers,
headliners and other parts for interior
applications in automotive industry.
 Basalt fibers provide many benefits as filler
for car mufflers showing great silencing
properties and good resistance to thermal
cycling.
 Basalt products can be used for chemical
and wear-resistant
Protective coating for the tanks,
pipelines (mostly oil pipe lines).Use as a High
Pressure Vessels, Waste-water Filters, and
Corrosion Resistant Tanks & Pipes
 METHODOLOGY
This chapter deals with the strength characteristics
and properties of fiber reinforced concrete. In this
case while comparing other type of concrete, a
fibre-reinforced concrete the mix proportions is
mainly depends upon the requirements for a
project, in terms of workability, strength, durability
and so on. The main aim of this experimental
investigations is to examine the compressive
strength ,split tensile and flexural strength of a
mixtures for a concrete of 25 MPa. The mix design
used for fiber reinforced concrete is same as that
of conventional concrete for relatively small fiber
volume of less than 0.5%. However, for larger fibre
volumes, the mix design procedures should be
based on workability considerations. Workability
and maximum fibre volume are governed by
parameters such as
 Maximum aggregate size
 The type and content of the fibers used
 The matrix in which the fibers are embedded
 The properties of the constituents of the matrix
on their own
 Fiber addition and mixing process.
As mentioned above, it is essential to base the mix
design procedures of FRC on workability
considerations. Therefore in this chapter, the
optimization of material composition of fibre
reinforced concrete based upon the desired
workability, flow ability and stability characteristics
will be described.
 Applications of Basalt fibre
▪ The fibres typically have a filament diameter of
between 9 and 13 µm which is far enough above
the respiratory limit of 5 µm to make basalt fibre a
suitable replacement for asbestos.

▪ It has been made label-free material in the US

and Europe. Also, particles or fibrous fragments
due to abrasion are too thick to be breathable but
care in handling is recommended.

▪ Considering the competition in the market and

the ever-increasing economic and environmental
requirements for reinforcements in polymer
composites, the reinforcement potential of newer
and newer fibers is investigated in the leading
research institutes of the world.

▪ Basalt fibre is a possible polymer reinforcing

material and can be applied in polymer matrix
composites instead of glass fibre. Basalt fibre can
be reinforced in thermosetting polyester matrix
composites.

▪ It was established that the surface treatment of

basalt fibre with silanes improved the adhesion to
the matrix, reflected also in the bending strength
of the composites. Single basalt fiber treated
with3-aminopropyltriethoxy-silane and
dimethoxysilane increased the interfacial shear
strength. The increasing application of basalt is
noticed as an insulating material in the
construction and automotive industry and less
hazardous than asbestos fiber.

▪ Basalt fabrics are produced for the structural,

electro-technical purposes. Structural applications
include electromagnetic shielding structures,
various components of automobiles, aircraft, ships
and household appliances. Fabrics of varying
surface densities are made depending upon the
application type and are in the range 160 g/m2 to
1100 g/m2 for the insulation type of applications.

▪ Basalt fibres reinforced in the glass matrix can be

viably used for opto-mechanical applications.
Processing of basalt fibres does not require special
equipment or technologies - all known processes
including filament winding, SMC/BMC as well as
conversion into regular textile, non-woven, UD and
multi-axial fabrics can be used. Wide application of
our basalt fiber in following industry fields:
building, automotive industry, boat building, wind
mill blades manufacturing etc.

❖ Nuclear Power Engineering

▪ Basalt materials do not absorb the radioactive
radiations, which make them to consider as the
potential material in production and transformation
of radioactive materials, in nuclear power plants.
▪ Protective cap using geo-composites in the waste
disposal sites, incorporating basalt materials, can
offer the best protection for the human health and
environment against the radioactive wastes.
❖ Civil Construction and Concrete
Reinforcements ▪ Requirements of the
moderate strengthening in the civil structures and
high fire resistance can be met with basalt fibers
while FRP strengthening can be considered for
pure strengthening.
▪ Applicability of basalt fibres as a strengthening
for concrete structural materials has been studied
for durability, mechanical properties and flexural
strength. Basalt filaments incorporated
unidirectional rods are used as the reinforcement
of concrete slabs in hydraulic engineering and
construction in seismically hazardous regions.
▪ There are two methods, wet and dry, for
production of basalt cloth that allows one to
prepare cloth of different types. Basalt fibres in a
basalt cloth form a regular pattern in which they
are cross-linked by means of organic additives,
mostly thermo reactive resins. The basalt cloth is a
porous material which allows easy impregnation;
furthermore, it exhibits a high chemical stability
and sealing, anticorrosion and fire-proof properties,
in the automotive industry, civil engineering, etc.
For floating concrete pontoons, steel is used, with
time salt water is penetrating into concrete and will
come into contact with the steel reinforcement
causing to rust and crack to the concrete. Nbvc.
▪ The basalt cloth can also be used as a
reinforcing material, as stabilizing or separating
layers, as a material for surface finish, or for sound
insulation.
concrete and will come into contact with the steel
reinforcement causing to rust and crack to the
concrete. nbvc
▪ Designing of new reinforcement which is a non-
corrosive, non-magnetic and nonelectric leading
material and has a longer life can replace the steel
reinforcement.

Basalt Fibre Composites-Tissues,

Plastics, and Laminates
▪ A very high Young's modulus, ultimate tensile
strength and good wetting properties of basalt
filaments can be utilized for making high
performance composites.
▪ Basalt fibre tissue is a non-woven material,
composed of uniformly distributed basalt fibres,
bound by organic additives like thermosetting
resins. Its porosity makes easy to impregnate and
also possesses better resistance against
atmospheric agents, UV rays, acids, and alkalis.
Different binders like foro-phenolic, melamine,
latex, urea formaldehyde or PVA can be used for
making basalt tissues.
▪ Basalt tissues can be used as soft roofing and
water proofing using bituminous coatings,
geotextiles, anti-corrosion material, plastic foams
with PU foam linings, tissue tapes for joining two
boards, batter plate separators and etc. Basalt
plastics based on various thermosetting binders,
phenolic polyesters through the laying out method,
suitable for automobile, aircraft, ships and
households appliances.
▪ Basalt fiber reinforced plastics are more suitable
for painting because of their better surface quality.
This, also, can be electroplated without imparting
any pretreatment to this material.
Electro-technical Application
▪ Basalt fabrics for electro-technical purposes are
used as a base for the production of insulation
materials, have superior properties to conventional
fibre glass material.
▪ Preliminary metallization of the fabrics result in
shielding properties of electromagnetic radiations.
Basalt can be used over a wide temperature range
from about -260℃/-200℃ to 650℃/ 800 ℃
compared to E-glass which can be used from - 6℃
to 450℃/600℃.
▪ It can replace asbestos in almost all applications
because of its heat insulating properties. Because
of its good insulating properties, it can replace
glass materials.
▪ Tapes made from the basalt material can be used
in the electrical cables as the insulation material
against fire hazards during power transmission.
Even at very low temperatures, the basalt fibers
attain their properties, which make this material
suitable for low temperature insulations.

FUTURE WORK
Proposed Method of the Project is as Follow:-

 Selection of Basalt Material.

 Selection of Aggregate
  Selection of Sand.

 Selection of Cement

 Testing of Aggregate, Cement in Laboratory.

 Testing of Basalt Sample.

 After Selection of all material Preparation of

Concrete Mix.

 Mixing of Basalt Fibre with Concrete.

 We Casting of Cubes (150*150*150 mm)

 Testing of casted cubes.

 Then note down the value which are given from

the different test.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

 The Compressive, Tensile & Flexural

Strength of concrete will significantly
increase on addition of Basalt Fibre.
  The tensile and flexural strength will be
doubled on adding 2% Basalt fibre by
weight.
 The cost analysis proves that there is
commendable increase in strength and
performance of concrete with only a
narrow increase in cost.
 On comparing the cost with Carbon Fibre
Reinforced Concrete (CFRC), it is found
that the BFRC proves much better in
almost every aspect and is way cheaper
than most of the other fibres.
Therefore it can be concluded that Basalt
fibres could be effectively and efficiently
used as reinforcement in concrete.

FUTURE SCOPE
 Basalt is a major replacement to the asbestos,
which poseshealth hazards by damaging
respiratory systems.
 Basalt Rock fibres have no toxic reaction with
air or water, are non-combustible and
explosion proof.
 When in contact with other chemicals they
produce no chemical reactions that may
damage health or the environment.
 It has good hardness and thermal properties,
can have various application as construction
materials.
 Basalt base composites can replace steel (1 kg
of basalt reinforces equals 9.6 kg of steel) as
light weight concrete can be get from basalt
fibre.
 As it is made of basalt rock is really cheap and
has several excellent properties good
mechanical strength, excellent sound and
thermal insulator, non-flammable, biologically
stable, etc.
 Flood basalt describes the formation in a
series of lava basalt flows. The average
density is 3.0 g/cm3.
 Basalt tissues can be used as soft roofing and
water proofing using bituminous coatings,
geotextiles, anti-corrosion material, plastic
foams with PU foam linings, tissue tapes for
joining two boards, batter plate separators
and etc.
 Basalt plastics based on various thermosetting
binders, phenolic polyesters through the
laying out method, suitable for automobile,
aircraft, ships and households appliances.
 REFERENCE
Some of the Reference of the above content is
following:-

I. Bureau of Indian Standards. “Plain and reinforced

concrete code for practice”, IS-456 (2000), New
Delhi.

II. Bureau of Indian Standards. “Methods of test for

aggregates for concrete. Specific gravity, Density,
Voids, Absorption and Bulking”, IS-2386 (Part III,
1963).

III. IS: 8112-1989, Specifications for 43 grade

Portland cement, Bureau of Indian Standards,
New Delhi, India.

IV. IS: 383-1970, Specifications for Coarse and Fine

aggregates from Natural sources for Concrete,
Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.

V. http://basaltfm.com/eng/index/htmldt.
12/10/2010.

VI. http://www.seminarprojects.com /Thread-basalt-

rock-fibre-br f dt 14/10/2010.

VII. http://www.basfiber.com/application dt.

12/10/2010.
VIII. http://www.npo-
vulkan.com/index_en.php.15/10/2010.

IX. http:// www.filtsep.com ; Basalt use in hot gas

filtration; January/February 2005

X. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2007.03.
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