Application of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Mortar in Residential Buildings

The exterior facade renovation of a residential complex utilized basalt fiberreinforced mortar. This project is located in a region with significant climate fluctuations, experiencing large temperature swings and strong humidity variations. These factors placed high demands on the crack resistance of traditional mortar. To enhance the mortar's crack-resisting properties, the Construction team opted for basalt fiber reinforced mortar instead of conventional plain mortar. During application, workers paid particular attention to the dispersion of the fibers and used an optimized mixing process to ensure the mortar's crack resistance in its application. After a period of natural curing, the building's facade exhibited excellent weather resistance and crack resistance.

To evaluate the crack resistance of the Basalt Fiber reinforced mortar in this project, the construction team conducted comparative tests, assessing the crack resistance of both basalt fiber reinforced mortar and plain mortar. Under identical drying shrinkage conditions, there was a clear difference in the drying shrinkage rates between plain mortar and basalt fiber reinforced mortar. Walls using plain mortar showed noticeable cracks within one month of construction, especially during nights with large temperature differences. In contrast, walls using basalt fiber reinforced mortar had almost no visible cracks, demonstrating superior resistance to drying shrinkage and cracking.

Tensile test results indicated that the tensile strength of basalt fiber reinforced mortar was significantly higher than that of plain mortar. During the tests, basalt fiber reinforced mortar exhibited better ductility, showing no significant breakage when stretched to its limit, whereas plain mortar cracked much earlier. In practical application, the crack resistance of basalt fiber reinforced mortar was particularly outstanding. Even after prolonged exposure to wind, sun, and significant temperature changes, the mortar surface did not show widespread cracks. Walls treated with plain mortar developed multiple cracks after two years, especially at joints and around window frames, indicating a marked decrease in crack resistance.