Enhancing Mechanical Properties and Durability of Plain Cement Concrete with Basalt

Abstract

The present study investigates the combined effect of basalt fibers (0–8% by weight of cement) and silica fume (10% cement replacement) as sustainable additives to enhance the mechanical and durability properties of plain cement concrete (PCC) for road construction. Concrete mixes were prepared as C0–C4 corresponding to 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% basalt fiber content. A suite of tests including compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength, water absorption, chloride penetration, freeze–thaw resistance, rebound hammer, and ultrasonic pulse velocity were conducted on laboratory specimens. Results indicate that strength generally improved with fiber addition, with the best overall performance around 6% fiber (C3). At later ages, compressive strength reached ~40 MPa (C3), split tensile strength reached ~6.1 N/mm² (C4), and flexural strength peaked at ~6.4 MPa (C3). Durability improved substantially: water absorption reduced from ~6.0% (C0) to ~3.0% (C4), and freeze–thaw performance improved with reduced mass loss and higher strength retention. Although workability decreased with higher fiber content, it remained manageable using superplasticizer and the densifying effect of silica fume. Overall, the combined use of basalt fibers and silica fume offers a promising approach for producing durable and sustainable PCC for road infrastructure.

Keywords: Basalt Fiber, Silica Fume, Concrete Durability, Mechanical Strength, Water Absorption, Chloride Penetration, Freeze-Thaw Resistance, Sustainable Roads, High-Performance Concrete