Experimental Investigation on the Ductility of Concrete Deep Beams Reinforced with Basalt-Carbon and Basalt-Steel Wire Hybrid Composite Bars

Abstract

Using steel bars in corrosive conditions imposes a high cost on concrete elements. This is due to corrosion of steel bars. In order to eliminate this issue, the use of composite materials in civil engineering practices has become an area of focus because of their acceptable mechanical behavior, such as high strength, suitable durability in corrosive environmental conditions, and low weight. However, composite bars show low ductility and brittle fracture in tensile tests. These weaknesses act as a stumbling block to the widespread use of such bars in concrete elements. Therefore, a new generation of hybrid composite bars, fabricated by a combination of two or more composite fibers, has been proposed to eliminate these downsides. In this research project, six reinforced concrete beams in three groups, including beams reinforced with basalt-wire hybrid composite bars, carbon-basalt hybrid composite bars, and steel bars, have been evaluated in statistical 4-point flexural tests. The test results showed that the energy absorption rate for beams reinforced with basalt-wire hybrid bars compared to beams reinforced with steel bars was up to 93% in the statistical 4-point flexural test.