Structural Upgrade Using Basalt Fibers for Concrete Confinement

This paper aims to appraise the opportunities provided by a new class of composites based on using basalt fibers bonded with a cement-based matrix as an innovative strengthening material for confinement of reinforced concrete members. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is assessed by comparing different confinement schemes on concrete cylinders: (1) uniaxial glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates; (2) alkali-resistant fiberglass grids bonded with a cement-based mortar; (3) bidirectional basalt laminates preimpregnated with epoxy resin or latex and then bonded with a cement-based mortar; and (4) a cement-based mortar jacket. The study showed that confinement based on basalt fibers bonded with a cement-based mortar could be a promising solution to overcome some limitations of epoxy-based FRP laminates.