Mode-I dynamic fracture evolution and energy dissipation of basalt fiber reinforced reactive powder concrete

Dynamic fracture experiments on basalt fiber reinforced reactive powder concrete (BFRRPC) were conducted using notched semi-circular bending (NSCB) specimens, aiming to investigate the Mode-I dynamic fracture characteristics. Based on the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) and digital image correlation (DIC) systems, this study focused on investigating the dynamic fracture toughness, fracture process zone (FPZ), crack propagation, fractal dimension of fracture path, and energy evolution of BFRRPC with different basalt fiber contents. The results show the basalt fiber break, pull-out and interface fracture in the matrix in the microscopic experiment results, which are the intrinsic reasons for the enhancement of fracture toughness in RPC due to the fiber presence. The increases in fracture toughness of BFRRPC range between 24.7 % and 42.7 %, with a notable enhancement observed when incorporating 1.0 % basalt fiber content. The crack and the FPZ tip of BFRRPC can be located effectively by the method of displacement-strain mixed calibration. The addition of 1.0 % basalt fiber content effectively delays the crack initiation in specimens, with crack initiation occurring earlier as the loading level increases. The CTOD and FPZ tip opening displacement have nothing to do with the loading level. Basalt fibers can lead to relatively lower and stable fractal dimensions of BFRRPC, effectively reducing the cracking degree and increasing the roughness of cracks. Basalt fiber effectively enhances the fracture energy of RPC. The dissipated energy is mainly composed of the energy consumed by the fracture (fracture energy) of BFRRPC, with the overall residual kinetic energy ratio (the ratio of residual kinetic energy to dissipated energy) generally below 1.90 %.