Experimental study of concrete beams prestressed with basalt fiber reinforced polymers. Part I: Flexural behavior and serviceability

Current research presents a comparative experimental investigation and introduces a new prestressing system for concrete members considering composite materials such as basalt fiber reinforced polymers (hereinafter-BFRP) in lieu conventional steel reinforcement. Certain three groups of total 12 large-scale beams and one non-prestressed control beam were tested depending on the degree of prestressing of the reinforcement. This paper summarizes a study undertaken to analyse flexural behavior in particular to deflection, cracking growth and flexural stiffness. Further research of prestressed BFRP concrete is introduced in order to expand potential application of basalt composite materials in the industry.