ADVANCEMENT OF BASALT FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMERS (BFRPS) AND THE NOVEL STRUCTURES REINFORCED WITH BFRPS

The characteristics of light weight, high strength, corrosion- and fatigue-resistance make fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) serve as a type of ideal material for structural strengthening and reinforcement. Environmentally friendly basalt FRPs (BFRPs) are considered as a feasible type of material stimulating the development of sustainability of infrastructures and are supported by the national and local governments in their strategies. Further improvements in terms of the performances of BFRPs and types of structures reinforced with BFRPs are necessary for the enhancement of the performance and the service life of infrastructures reinforced with BFRP. The advancement technologies of BFRP are elaborated. Furthermore, three novel structures reinforced with BFRPs including concrete structures reinforced with BFRP bars/grids of high durability and damage controllability, BFRP-shell-concrete composite structure, and long-span structure with BFRP cable, are reviewed in terms of design philosophies, key technologies, and mechanical behaviors. Finally, several strategic recommendations are proposed for the prospects of newly-built structures reinforced with BFRP.