Numerical Investigation of the Bond-Slip Behavior between Double-Helix BFRP Macrofibers and Concrete

Abstract

Basalt fiber–reinforced polymer (BFRP) is widely used to reinforce concrete due to its high strength, lightweight nature, good corrosion resistance, and low cost. Previous studies have shown that the double-helix BFRP macrofiber has better bond behavior with concrete compared with other types of BFRP fibers. This is attributed to its irregular geometry. The bond-slip behavior between double-helix BFRP macrofiber and concrete is further numerically studied in this study. The corresponding finite-element model is established, and the accuracy of the numerical method is validated by the experimental results based on fiber-matrix pullout tests. The effects of twisted pitches, bundle numbers, and cross-section shapes of the fiber on the bond-slip behavior are extensively investigated and discussed. It is shown by the numerical results that the bond stress and energy-dissipating capacity increase with the decrease of twisted pitches (30, 20, 10, and 5 mm). The bond stress of the fiber with a twisted pitch of 5 mm can be increased by 17.0% at most compared with the fiber with a twisted pitch of 30 mm. Furthermore, it is found that the double-helix BFRP fiber has higher bond stress than the fiber with three or four bundles, with corresponding increases of 11.9% and 16.9%, respectively.