Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Experimental and Comparative Study on the Effects of PET and Basalt Fibers on the Mechanical Performance and Workability of Concrete

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Atefeh Soleymani 1
Hashem Jahangir 2
1 PhD. in Civil Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Research Group of Novel Technologies in Civil Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
10.30478/jcsm.2026.574046.1414
Abstract
In this study, the effect of incorporating polymeric PET fibers and mineral basalt fibers on the mechanical behavior and workability of concrete was experimentally investigated. Concrete mixtures containing PET fibers at volumetric fractions of 0.8%, 1.0%, 1.2%, and 1.4%, and basalt fibers at 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.7%, 0.9%, and 1.1% were prepared and cast into cubic, cylindrical, and prismatic specimens. Compressive strength, indirect tensile strength (Brazilian splitting test), and three-point flexural strength were measured at curing ages of 7, 28, and 42 days. Simultaneously, concrete workability was evaluated using the slump test. The results indicated that the optimal PET fiber content increased the 28-day compressive strength by 8%, the tensile strength by 22%, and the flexural strength by 19% compared to the control specimen. Similarly, basalt fibers at their optimal dosage enhanced the 28-day compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths by 20%, 28%, and 30%, respectively, relative to plain concrete. The mechanical response of fiber-reinforced concrete exhibited a nonlinear trend with increasing fiber content; beyond the optimal dosage, a reduction in strength was observed due to decreased compaction efficiency and increased matrix discontinuities. The optimal fiber contents for achieving maximum mechanical performance were determined as 1.2% for PET fibers and 0.7% for basalt fibers. Owing to their higher elastic modulus and tensile strength, basalt fibers showed a more pronounced improvement in compressive and flexural strengths, whereas PET fibers were particularly effective in enhancing tensile strength and post-cracking behavior. At the highest investigated fiber contents, PET and basalt fibers reduced slump by 29% and 41%, respectively, indicating a significant decrease in workability. Finally, empirical behavioral models based on nonlinear regression were developed, including a quadratic model describing the relationship between compressive strength and fiber volume fraction, an exponential growth model incorporating the curing time effect, and power-law relationships for predicting tensile and flexural strengths as functions of compressive strength.
Keywords
Fiber-reinforced concrete
PET fibers
Basalt fibers
Compressive strength
Tensile strength
Flexural strength
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 15 February 2026
  • Revise Date 25 February 2026
  • Accept Date 06 May 2026