INVESTIGATION OF BASALT ROD AS A SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE REINFORCEMENT FOR CONVENTIONAL STEEL REBAR IN CONCRETE BEAMSS. Ramamoorthy and K.L. MuthuramuAbstract The research study presents the results of an experimental investigation that was carried out to evaluate the performance characteristics of concrete beams reinforced with Basalt Fiber Reinforced Plastic (BFRP) rods. The primary objective of this investigation was to experimentally determine the load-deflection behaviour of the concrete beam reinforced with basalt rod and compare it with concrete beams reinforced with conventional steel rebars. A total of four M30 grade concrete beams of size 1.2m x 0.23m x 0.23m were cast. Out of the four beams, two beams were cast with basalt rod and the remaining two were cast with conventional steel rebar as reinforcements. The beams were tested for 28 days curing strength under static flexural loading. The shear reinforcement for the concrete beams were provided with weld mesh reinforcement instead of stirrups. The loads were applied through a high accuracy load cell with a load sensitive of 0.1 Tonnes and mid span deflection was measured using dial gauges of least count 0.01mm. The study parameters included load- deflection behaviour, crack patterns and modes of failures of the specimens. The beams had considerable cracking and large deflections before ultimate failure. Most of the beams failed primarily in flexure followed by shear failure and some beams had typical flexural failure. From the experimental investigations, it was inferred that beams with basalt rebars had adequate load carrying capacity withstanding high deflections and therefore they could be effectively used as alternative reinforcement in concrete structures.
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