Dynamic compressive behavior of basalt fiber reinforced concrete after exposure to elevated temperatures

This paper investigated the dynamic behavior of basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC) after elevated temperatures by using a 100-mm-diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus. Changes in weight and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) were also studied. The results indicate that the weight losses of BFRC before cooling increase with temperature, while a reduction in weight loss value is observed after water cooling. The UPV values of BFRC decrease constantly as temperature increases, and the measured velocities under the same temperature increase with fiber content as temperature exceeds 200 degrees C. For a given temperature, the strain rate, dynamic strength, critical strain, and impact toughness of BFRC increase with impact velocity. For a given impact velocity, the increasing temperature generally leads to an increase in strain rate and critical strain and results in a decrease in dynamic strength and impact toughness except in the case of 200 degrees C. At 200 degrees C, however, a marginal reduction, even an improvement in dynamic strength is observed, and the impact toughness initially decreases, then increases with loading rate when compared with that at room temperature. Basalt fiber is effective in improving the strength performance, deformation capacity, and energy absorption property of concrete after high temperature. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.