A Mechanical and Environmental Assessment and Comparison of Basalt Fibre Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) Rebar and Steel Rebar in Concrete Beams

Abstract This paper compares holistically the mechanical and environmental performance of basalt fibre reinforced polymer (BFRP) rebar against conventional steel rebar in concrete beams. This assessment involves material testing and life cycle assessment (LCA). The results show that BFRP tendons in reinforced concrete beams are stronger and lighter than steel with a better environmental profile and fewer embodied emissions, as fewer material and energy resources are required during production. The future market is expected to be within the precast industry, rather than in on-site construction, as precast BFRP concrete beams have approximately half the emissions of steel reinforced concrete beams.

[1]  B. Luccioni,et al.  Numerical analysis of fibre reinforced polymer retrofitted masonry panels , 2013 .

[2]  Jongsung Sim,et al.  Characteristics of basalt fiber as a strengthening material for concrete structures , 2005 .

[3]  Hans-Jürgen Dr. Klüppel,et al.  The Revision of ISO Standards 14040-3 - ISO 14040: Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework - ISO 14044: Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines , 2005 .

[4]  P. I. Bashtannik,et al.  The Effect of Adhesion Interaction on the Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Basalt Plastics , 2003 .

[5]  Y. Shin,et al.  Flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams retrofitted with hybrid fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) under sustaining loads , 2011 .

[6]  Charles Mbohwa,et al.  The use of basalt aggregates in the production of concrete for the prefabrication industry: Environmental impact assessment, interpretation and improvement , 2014 .

[7]  Charles Mbohwa,et al.  Life cycle inventory analysis of a precast reinforced concrete shed for goods storage , 2014 .

[8]  M. Efremov,et al.  Some aspects of the manufacturing process for obtaining continuous basalt fiber , 2011 .

[9]  E. Thorhallsson,et al.  Basalt Fibers as New Material for Reinforcement and Confinement of Concrete , 2016 .

[10]  Zhishen Wu,et al.  Creep behavior of basalt fiber reinforced polymer tendons for prestressing application , 2014 .

[11]  M. Masuelli.  Fiber Reinforced Polymers - The Technology Applied for Concrete Repair , 2013 .

[12]  V. Fiore,et al.  A review on basalt fibre and its composites , 2015 .

[13]  D. Pico,et al.  Synthetic Fibres for Composite Applications , 2016 .

[14]  F. C. Campbell.  Structural Composite Materials , 2010 .

[15]  R. Panchalan,et al.  A New Construction Material—Non-Corrosive Basalt Bar Reinforced Concrete , 2005, SP-229: Quality of Concrete Structures and Recent Advances in Concrete Materials and Testing.

[16]  Mark Holmes,et al.  Global carbon fibre market remains on upward trend , 2014 .

[17]  M. Urbański,et al.  Experimental and theoretical analysis of deflections of concrete beams reinforced with basalt rebar , 2015 .

[18]  A. Nanni.  Guide for the Design and Construction of Concrete Reinforced with FRP Bars (ACI 440.1R-03) , 2005 .

[19]  Ehab A. Ahmed,et al.  Experimental testing of basalt-fiber-reinforced polymer bars in concrete beams , 2016 .

[20]  H. Sigurdsson,et al.  Skagi and western neovolcanic zones in Iceland: 2. Geochemical variations , 1978 .

[21]  C. Leone,et al.  Mechanical characterisation of basalt fibre reinforced plastic , 2011 .