Title:
Behavior of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars After Exposure to High Temperatures (Prepublished)
Author(s):
Brandon Boles, Jahanzaib, and Shamim Sheikh
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP); elevated temperature; glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP); sustained load; tensile strength
DOI:
10.14359/51749408
Date:
12/18/2025
Abstract:
Research presented in this paper is part of a program investigating the durability of fiber-reinforced polymer reinforcement after exposure to a marine environment or elevated temperatures. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the tensile behavior of basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars after exposure to elevated temperatures under different heating protocols. Under the steady-state heating protocol, specimens were exposed to elevated temperatures up to 250°C (482°F) first and then subjected to monotonically increasing load until failure. In other testing protocols, specimens were exposed to a specific sustained stress level first, keeping deformation or load constant, and then heated until failure. Under these conditions, specimen stress levels varied from 39 to 91%. Results showed that different testing protocols yielded different results, and the criticality shifted between protocols depending on the stress level. Lastly, a direct comparison is made between BFRP and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars tested under identical conditions. The direct comparison showed that thermal degradation of BFRP at higher stress levels was comparable with that of GFRP bars, whereas GFRP bars exhibited superior performance at lower stress levels.