Experimental and analytical study of high performance concrete beams reinforced with Basalt FRP bars

This research aims to investigate flexural behaviour of high performance concrete beams reinforced with Basalt Fibers Reinforced Polymers (BFRP) bars. Twelve half-scale concrete beams were tested under four-points bending. The experimental parameters are BFRP reinforcement ratios (0.58%, 0.87%, and 1.16%), and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers ratios (0.0%, 0.5%, and 1.0%).The test results showed significant improvement in the load-carrying capacity of high performance concrete beams with PVA fibers compared to non-fibrous concrete beams, the improvements are 29% and 48% for PVA ratio of 0.5% and1.0% respectively. In the presence of PVA fibers, the ultimate strain of BFRP bars is higher than that recorded in the absence of PVA fibers. It confirmed the contribution of PVA fibers to the flexural strength of the concrete beams and the better use of the tensile strength of the BFRP bars. Furthermore, an analytical investigation based on strain compatibility method was carried out to predict the moment capacity and effective moment of inertia of PVA concrete beams reinforced with BFRP bars.