Parámetros de la Fractura del Hormigón Reforzado con Fibras de Basalto = Fracture Parameters of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete

A three-point bending method was used in the study to determine the fracture toughness of concretes with basalt fibers. The post-cracking behavior and fracture properties of concrete were analyzed on the basis of load–crack mouth opening displacement (P–CMOD) curves. The chopped basalt fibers (50 mm length; 0.02 mm diameter) were added to cement concrete at the contents of 2,0; 4,0 and 8,0 kg/m³. The addition of the considered volume fraction of basalt fibers had significant influence on the fracture properties of concrete, while the fibers had slight effect on the strength properties of concrete. The basalt fibers caused the improvement of the fracture parameters as Kic, CTODc and total fracture energy GF. The analysis of P-CMOD diagrams proved that the post-cracking fracture behavior of the beam was greatly improved by the addition of basalt fibers. The results of measuring the toughness and energy-absorption characteristics showed that fiber reinforced concrete specimens acquire a great ductile behavior and energy absorption capacity, compared to ordinary concrete specimens.