Title:
Assessing the Durability Characteristics of Basalt Fiber and Slag-Based Cementitious Composite
Author(s):
Alein Jeyan Sudhakar and Bhuvaneshwari Muthusubramanian
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
basalt fiber; cementitious composites; durability; ground granulated blast-furnace slag; GGBS; microstructure; strength
DOI:
10.14359/51745597
Date:
1/22/2025
Abstract:
Researchers have concentrated on the durability characteristics of textile-reinforced cementitious composites with quartz and silica sand. To make it easily available for construction, this study explores the durability characteristics of cementitious composites (CC) with the available manufactured sand before applying it to textile reinforcement. It is more important to study the durability characteristics as the main aim of its application is to construct thin structures without coarse aggregate. Thus, the durability and microstructural characteristics of basalt fiber-reinforced fine-grained cementitious composites incorporated with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) as a partial substitution of cement (BFRFGC) are studied. The CC were exposed to different exposure conditions such as acidic environment, alkaline environment, and elevated temperature. Then its visual appearance, change in weight, and strength are studied per the code provisions at several exposure ages. In addition, microstructural studies were also performed at different exposure conditions and were compared with the specimens before exposure. The BFRFGC showed 61.93 and 27.58% lower strength and weight change than controlled fine-grained cementitious composites (CFGC) under extreme conditions (i.e., exposure to sulphuric acid). Also, the results from microstructural studies reveal that basalt fiber (BF) and BFRFGC are resistant to all these conditions. Subsequently, BFRFGC has superior resistance under various exposure conditions and excellent durability characteristics.