Flexural Toughness of High-Performance Concrete with Basalt and Polypropylene Short Fibres

In this work, an investigation is made to evaluate the flexural toughness of hybrid fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete (HPC) containing different combinations of basalt (B) and polypropylene (P) fibres. The experimental studies consisted of the three-point flexural tests on notched beam specimens. The specimens incorporated basalt/polypropylene (BP) fibres in 11 mixtures with proportions of 0/0, 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100% by volume at total volume fractions of 1 and 2%. The evaluation of the experimental results was done according to the CECS 13:2009 and PCS (postcrack strength) methods. The results indicate that high-performance concrete containing basalt/polypropylene fibre mixtures of 50/50% and with only polypropylene fibre content of 0/100% can be pronounced as the most appropriate combinations to be used in high-performance concrete for flexural toughness.