Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete Under the Single-Side Salt-Freezing–Drying–Wetting Cycles

Abstract In the past, the salt freezing test does not often accord with the actual service environment of engineering, thus, we designed a test method of single-side salt-freezing–drying–wetting cycles. The mechanical properties and microstructure of ordinary concrete and basalt fiber reinforced concrete were studied. The mechanical property test is aimed at the splitting tensile strength and compressive strength of concrete after different cycles. The microstructure test is to study the hydration products by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the pore structure of concrete by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test. The results indicate that the addition of basalt fiber can improve the compactness and pore structure of concrete. It is beneficial to enhance the durability of concrete under single-side salt-freezing–drying–wetting cycles. The improving effect of basalt fiber is better on the splitting tensile strength of concrete than the compressive strength. Basalt fiber exerts the best effect on reducing harmful holes in concrete. However, there is an optimal range of basalt fiber content, the performance of concrete will deteriorate with excessive fiber content. The cycles will destroy the hydration products of concrete and the synergistic effect between hydration products and fibers, but has little effect on the three-dimensional network constructed by basalt fibers. The pore structure of concrete is correlated with the mechanical properties of it under cyclic conditions, which is worth further study.