Response Surface Based Multi-objective Optimization of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Foamed Concrete

In order to improve the mechanical properties of traditional foamed concrete, basalt fiber reinforced foamed concrete (BFFC) was prepared. The response surface methodology was used to design the test and establish the regression model to analyze the influence of the content of foam and fiber on apparent density, compressive strength and compressive toughness of BFFC. The desirability function was used to do the multi-objective optimization, and the fiber mechanism was analyzed by SEM. The results show that the optimal foam and fiber content for BFFC products per unit volume are 0.617 875 m3 and 2.384 66 kg respectively, which can achieve BFFC with apparent density of 641.06 kg/m3, compressive strength up to 13.60 MPa, and compressive toughness index up to 0.887. The microscopic analysis result shows that basalt fiber of appropriate amount can strengthen and toughen the foamed concrete through the stable propagation of multiple cracks under the bridging action. © 2019, Materials Review Magazine. All right reserved.