Research progress on properties of basalt fiber-reinforced cement concrete

Basalt fiber is a natural mineral fiber that offers environmental protection and favorable mechanical properties. It is in fact a silicate material, which is highly compatible with cement-based materials, and is widely used to enhance the performance of concrete. This paper provides a review of the latest research progress on basalt fiber-reinforced concrete (BFRC) and an analysis of the effect of basalt fiber on the properties and microstructure of BFRC. Studies show that the flexural strength, crack resistance, and frost resistance of concrete are significantly improved by basalt fiber, whereas the effect of basalt fiber on compressive strength and impermeability remains ambiguous. The reinforcement effect of basalt fiber on the properties of BFRC primarily depends on its length and content, and the optimal parameters of basalt fiber are affected by the raw materials and evaluation methods used. The addition of basalt fiber increases the porosity of concrete, although a consensus regarding the pore size distribution of BFRC has not been attained. Finally, future research trends in BFRC are discussed.