Experimental study on the axial compression of short basalt fiber reinforced concrete columns with spiral stirrups

Short reinforced concrete (RC) column with spiral stirrups is an important component of civil engineering. However, the usability and durability of short RC columns are affected significantly by concrete cracking, poor adaptive deformability, low toughness and acid-base corrosion. Improving the stress performance of short RC columns is favour of normal application. Adding basalt fiber into concrete is an important method to improve the stress performance of short RC columns. Effects of basalt fiber on the axial compressive mechanical properties of short RC columns with spiral stirrups were explored in this study. The optimal fiber length and content were determined by a cube test of basalt fiber concrete. An axial compression experiment was conducted by preparing six pieces of short basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC) columns with spiral stirrups and six pieces of short RC columns with spiral stirrups. Results showed that the ultimate bearing capacities of all short BFRC columns with spiral stirrups were larger (28.5% up to the most) than those of the short RC columns with spiral stirrups. The short BFRC columns with spiral stirrups developed cracks and fall of their protective layers later than the short RC columns with spiral stirrups. Basalt fiber can improve the ultimate strain of concrete and significantly improve the adaptive deformability of short RC columns. Research results prove that basalt fiber can improve the bearing capacity and usability of the short RC column with spiral stirrups. Conclusions are valuable for the extensive application of basalt fiber to the civil engineering. © 2017 Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology.