Numerical analysis of shear critical BFRP-reinforced concrete beams containing basalt fibers

Simulation models were developed for concrete beams reinforced with basalt fibers (BF) and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars. Experiments were conducted on physical concrete beams to validate predictions of the numerical models. The effect of replacement of natural aggregates (NA) by recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and the inclusion of BF on shear response of BFRP-reinforced concrete beams was then investigated numerically. The shear capacity of the beam models with 30–100% RCA decreased by 10–28 % relative to that of a control beam model with NA. The inclusion of BF at a volume fraction (v_f) of 0.5 % to beam models with 30 % and 60 % RCA fully restored the shear capacity of the control model. At 100 % RCA, a maximum of 93 % of the shear capacity of the control model was restored at v_f= 1.5 %. Research findings would assist practitioners in proper modeling of BFRP-reinforced concrete beams containing nonmetallic fibers.