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Review

A Review on the Applications of Basalt Fibers and Their Composites in Infrastructures

by
Wenlong Yan
1,
Jianzhe Shi
2,*,
Xuyang Cao
2,*,
Meng Zhang
1,
Lei Li
1 and
Jingyi Jiang
1
1
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China
2
College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Buildings 2025, 15(14), 2525; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142525
Submission received: 25 June 2025 / Revised: 11 July 2025 / Accepted: 16 July 2025 / Published: 18 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymers and Fiber-Reinforced Concrete in Civil Engineering—2nd Edition)
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Abstract

This article presents a review on the applications of basalt fibers and their composites in infrastructures. The characteristics and advantages of high-performance basalt fibers and their composites are firstly introduced. Then, the article discusses strengthening using basalt fiber sheets and BFRP bars or grids, followed by concrete structures reinforced with BFRP bars, asphalt pavements, and cementitious composites reinforced with chopped basalt fibers in terms of mechanical behaviors and application examples. The load-bearing capacity of the strengthened structures can be increased by up to 60%, compared with those without strengthening. The lifespan of the concrete structures reinforced with BFRP can be extended by up to 50 years at least in harsh environments, which is much longer than that of ordinary reinforced concrete structures. In addition, the fatigue cracking resistance of asphalt can be increased by up to 600% with basalt fiber. The newly developed technologies including anchor bolts using BFRPs, self-sensing BFRPs, and BFRP–concrete composite structures are introduced in detail. Furthermore, suggestions are proposed for the forward-looking technologies, such as long-span bridges with BFRP cables, BFRP truss structures, BFRP with thermoplastic resin matrix, and BFRP composite piles.

1. Introduction

The construction and operation maintenance of infrastructures are important prerequisites for ensuring social development. However, infrastructures generally suffer from problems such as poor structural durability, high operation and maintenance costs, and severe overloading. Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), which have been widely studied and applied in recent decades [1], possess characteristics such as light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. FRPs can effectively improve the load-bearing capacity, crack resistance, deformation resistance, and durability of engineering structures, and they can also reduce the lifecycle cost, providing an effective way to solve the above problems in durability [2] or resilience [3]. A series of design specifications and construction processes have been proposed by the major developed countries for the applications of FRP in infrastructures. Currently, FRPs have been widely used in structural strengthening and they have been gradually applied in new construction structures. The main types of FRP used in infrastructures mainly include carbon FRP (CFRP), glass FRP (GFRP), and basalt FRP (BFRP). Basalt fibers and their composites (Figure 1) have received special attention due to their high cost-effectiveness and broad application prospects. Basalt fiber is a type of non-metallic inorganic material made by rapidly drawing natural volcanic rock raw melted at a high temperature of 1500 °C (Figure 2). No pollutive gas is emitted during the production of basalt fibers. Thus, the production process is almost pollution-free, which is expected to achieve sustainable engineering structures.
Researchers have conducted relevant experimental studies on the static, creep, fatigue, and durability of BFRP. The main results are shown as follows.
(1)
BFRP has a fatigue strength ranging from 0.6 to 0.85 fu (fu is the static tensile strength) [4], which is slightly lower than CFRP (0.7 to 0.95 fu). It can be used to withstand dynamic loads, effectively improving the fatigue life of engineering structures.
(2)
BFRP has a creep rate of merely 3% when sustaining a 0.5 fu stress for 1000 h, and a one-million-hour creep rupture stress of 0.54 fu [5]. This creep rupture stress largely exceeds that of GFRP (0.29 fu). The one-thousand-hour relaxation rate of BFRP bars under an initial stress of 0.5 fu is only 2.6% [6], which is close to the corresponding value of ordinary steel strands.
(3)
BFRP has corrosion resistance, and high- and low-temperature resistance. Its strength and elastic modulus under ultraviolet irradiation change within 10%, and the predicted strength degradation in a marine environment for 100 years does not exceed 15% [7]. The strength retention rate reaches 50% at 500 °C [8], and the maximum working temperature of the composites made of specially developed basalt fibers can reach up to 1200 °C. In addition, the minimum working temperature ranges from −200 to −100 °C, depending on the resin matrix type. Furthermore, after 300 freeze–thaw cycles, the strength retention rate approximates 96% [9].
(4)
Similar to other types of FRP, BFRP has strong designability, which fulfills different engineering structural requirements through hybridization design with other fibers or steels.
(5)
The multi-function is also an attractive point of BFRP. It has a thermal conductivity of only 0.04 W/(m·K) [10], which is much lower than the value of steel equaling 48 W/(m·K). Thus, BFRP can be used as insulation building material. Additionally, the volume resistivity of BFRP is 1.5 × 1013 Ω·m, which realizes structural insulation without electromagnetic induction. The dielectric constant/dielectric loss is 2.61/0.0068, which can be used for transparent structures. Moreover, BFRP possesses low magnetic permeability equaling 4π × 10−8 H/m, which is only 1/10 of the value of low magnetic steel. Therefore, BFRP has potential in the application as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. To sum up, BFRP can also be used as a functional material in non-structural members.

2. Applications of Basalt Fibers and Their Composites in Infrastructures

2.1. Concrete Structures Strengthened by BFRP Composites

2.1.1. Strengthening of Beams or Slabs Using Basalt Fiber Sheets or BFRP Laminates

In structural strengthening, basalt fiber sheets or BFRP laminates are bonded to the tensile side of the existing structures to carry tensile stress. With the collaboration of high-strength basalt fiber sheets or BFRP laminates, the load-bearing capacity of the existing structures can be increased significantly. By applying prestress to the external fiber sheet or FRP laminate, the high strength of FRP can be fully utilized, and the cracking load and yielding load of the structure can be significantly increased. BFRP not only has a high strength exceeding 1000 MPa, but it also has a creep rupture stress of 0.54 fu, which can be used as a prestressing material. The technologies developed for carbon fiber sheets or CFRP laminates can also be applied to basalt fiber sheets or BFRP laminates. For example, in response to the aging problem of the adhesive layer in conventional external strengthening, a key technology of using high-permeability weather resistant interface agents to strengthen the fiber surface and concrete substrate was invented. Two effective methods, namely layered anchoring and step-by-step tensioning anchoring, were proposed to solve the problem of the stress concentration in prestressing fiber sheets at the anchoring ends [11]. At the same time, the mechanisms of flexural [11], shear [12], seismic [13], and peel strengthening [14] of basalt fiber sheets or BFRP laminates were clarified, and the corresponding calculation methods were established. In 2022, prestressed BFRP laminates were applied on a highway bridge in Yancheng, China, and the structural load-bearing capacity and service life have been significantly increased.

2.1.2. Confinement of Columns

Both the ductility and load-bearing capacity should be considered in the seismic strengthening of concrete columns. Basalt fiber sheets not only have relatively low cost and high elongation (3%) compared with carbon fiber, but can also achieve similar strength or stiffness through reasonable layer design. The comparative test of the concrete columns confined with continuous basalt and carbon fiber sheets shows that under similar lateral confinement stiffness, the columns with basalt fiber sheets can exceed those with carbon fiber sheets in terms of the increase in load-bearing capacity, ductility, energy dissipation, and other structural performance [15]. The constitutive curves of the columns confined with basalt fiber sheets have a softening stage, while those of the columns confined with carbon fiber sheets are almost linear. Therefore, hybrid basalt/carbon fiber sheets can effectively improve the shortcomings of single-type fiber sheets [16]. In addition to columns, basalt fiber sheets or BFRP laminates can also effectively improve the load-bearing capacity and ductility of beam–column joints [17,18], enhancing the seismic performance of structures.

2.1.3. Strengthening via Prestressing BFRP Bars

The strengthening technologies with prestressing FRP bars mainly comprise externally prestressing FRP bars and near surface mounted (NSM) prestressing FRP bars. Due to the aforementioned mechanical behaviors, using BFRP as prestressing bars is an effective way to achieve improvement both in short- and long-term behaviors, which have been validated by existing studies [19,20]. It should be noted that anchoring is a key problem in the prestressing application of FRP bars, due to their low strength in the transverse direction. Focusing on the problems of a large creep of conventional bond anchorages and stress concentration caused by steel-wedge anchorages, a variable-stiffness composite-wedge anchoring method has been developed for the application of prestressing BFRP bars (Figure 3) [21]. Focusing on the stress concentration at the loading end of the anchorage, the material with relatively small stiffness is arranged on the segment of wedge at the loading end. Thus, the stress transferred to the bar can be significantly decreased with the variable-stiffness wedge. This method increases the anchoring efficiency significantly. In terms of the NSM strengthening via prestressing BFRP bars, an external NSM process using polymer cement mortar (PCM) was proposed, which solves the problem of the stress concentration at the end of the prestressing bars [22].

2.1.4. Strengthening via BFRP Grids

The externally bonded fiber sheet and FRP laminate have shortcomings in durability, fire resistance, and peel resistance, etc. Thus, their application in infrastructures such as tunnels and underwater structures is limited. Strengthening using BFRP grids was developed to overcome these issues. Due to the particularity of underwater structures, the bonding and maintenance issues of the strengthening materials are serious. Therefore, researchers developed an undrained and efficient strengthening via BFRP grids [23]. The grids can be embedded into the foundation of the pier, successfully solving the problems of difficult operation and insignificant strengthening effects of fiber sheets in underwater structures (Figure 4).
A PCM spraying process with low rebound and high bond performance, and a mechanical-friction anchorage, were developed for the strengthening with prestressing BFRP grids. Then, the structural performance of the bridge decks strengthened with prestressing BFRP grids was studied [24]. The results show that compared with the bridge decks without strengthening, the cracking load, yielding load, and ultimate load of the strengthened ones were increased by 50%, 30%, and 60%, respectively. The strengthening effect of grids is provided both by chemical bond and by mechanical interlocking, as shown in Figure 5. In the strengthening of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in 2017, the arch ribs of the approach bridge were strengthened with BFRP grids, which improved the load-bearing capacity and durability without increasing the cross-sectional size of the structure.
In addition to grids, basalt fiber textile reinforced cementitious material (BFRCM) also provides an effective method for structural strengthening. The textile is produced with fibers both in the longitudinal and transverse directions without impregnation in resin matrix. Thus, BFRCM has equal strength in these two directions. Compared to externally bonded fiber sheets or FRP laminates, the compatibility between cementitious materials and concrete substrates results in better collaboration between BFRCM and concrete structures. Experimental results show that the ductility of concrete beams strengthened with BFRCM is significantly improved [25,26]. When used for shear strengthening, the direction of fiber should be arranged as +/−45° for a preferable strengthening effect, which accords with the direction of the principal tensile stress on the strengthened zones [27]. In addition, BFRCM can also be used for strengthening concrete columns, which significantly improves the load-bearing capacity and deformability of columns [28].

2.2. Concrete Structures Reinforced with BFRP Bars

Due to the susceptibility of steel bars to corrosion, the safety and durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures are faced with severe challenges in harsh environments. Using noncorrosive FRP bars instead of steel bars as the reinforcements in concrete is an effective way to solve the above problems. The coefficient of thermal expansion of BFRP ranges from 8 × 10−6 to 12 × 10−6, which is close to that of concrete (10−5). Thus, it has significant advantages as reinforcements in concrete structures. Various types of BFRP reinforcement products (longitudinal bars, stirrups, etc.) have been developed for the application of BFRP in concrete to fulfill the requirements of different structures. In addition, process technologies have been developed for BFRP bars, such as coiling, bending, and overlapping, to fulfill the construction requirements. BFRP longitudinal bars and stirrups are the main load-bearing bars in concrete structures [29]. BFRP stirrups also play a significant role in vertical concrete members, which can provide stable elastic constraints on concrete columns, reducing lateral displacement and controlling the damage of columns. BFRP bars can extend the lifespan of the concrete structures applied in harsh environments by up to 50 years, which is much longer than the lifespan ranging from 10 to 20 years of conventional RC structures.
It is noteworthy that the concrete structures reinforced only with BFRP bars have problems such as low ductility and insufficient stiffness, due to the low elastic modulus and brittleness of BFRP. Therefore, the concrete structures reinforced with hybrid steel–BFRP bars were proposed (Figure 6) [30], which have ribbed BFRP bars on the outer side of the steel bars. As shown in Figure 7, the bond–slip curve comprises an ascending segment and a descending segment. An abrupt drop of the curve at the peak point like that of the steel bar indicates a sudden bond failure. In contrast, BFRP bars have a stable descending segment in their bond–slip curve. An abrupt bond failure can be avoided on BFRP bars, and they maintain considerable bond behavior after a bar–concrete slip occurs. Thus, BFRP bars can effectively delay crack propagation, and they can significantly reduce the influence of corrosive media on internal steel bars. The stiffness and ductility of the structure have also been significantly improved compared to the structures reinforced only with BFRP bars.
The arrangement of hybrid steel–BFRP bars is also an effective method to achieve the resilience of structures in disasters (Figure 8). The linearly elastic BFRP bars provide secondary stiffness of the structure after the steel bars yield, and the residual deformation is significantly smaller than that of ordinary RC structures under the same displacement. The stable slip segment in the BFRP bond–slip curve can ensure that the structure does not collapse when the deformation is too large [31]. It is worth noting that in order to achieve this effect, two prerequisites are necessary. Firstly, the actual bond strength of the FRP bars must not exceed the corresponding bond stress when the bar is ruptured. If the former exceeds the latter, BFRP bars may rupture during an earthquake, and their constraining effect on slip will be completely eliminated. Secondly, BFRP bars must have a stable slip segment in their bond–slip curves to ensure the ductility of the structure and to effectively constrain its deformation.

2.3. Pavement Reinforced with Basalt Fibers and BFRP Bars

2.3.1. Asphalt Pavement Reinforced with Basalt Fibers

Adding chopped fibers is an effective solution to the problem of cracking in conventional asphalt pavements. A series of requirements are necessary for the fibers used in asphalt pavement, such as wide operating temperature range, as well as good chemical stability, anti-aging performance, water stability, and electrical insulation performance, etc. Moreover, because of the large usage of chopped fibers in asphalt, cost-effective fibers are more favorable. For example, carbon fibers have high mechanical properties, but their oil absorption is poor and their price is expensive. Although lignin fibers have good oil absorption, their anti-aging performance is poor. The mechanical properties of glass fiber in the alkaline environment of asphalt may be seriously degraded, and other mineral fibers except basalt fiber have significant brittleness. Considering the above factors, chopped basalt fibers have become the optimal choice for the fibers in asphalt pavements.
The main technical indicators of basalt fibers in asphalt pavements include fiber fineness, length, mass fraction, surface characteristic, mix proportion, etc. Existing studies show that the diameter of fibers should range from 13 to 17 μm, and the nominal length of fibers should be 6, 9, and 12 mm [32]. Agglomeration may occur at an excessive length; if the fiber is too short, the bridging effect will not be desirable. The surface of basalt fibers used for asphalt pavements should be smooth, straight, and pollution-free, and should be treated with oleophilic modification to make it suitable for asphalt. The optimal mass fraction of basalt fibers should be 0.3% to 0.4% [32]. If the fraction is too small, the reinforcing effect may not be significant; agglomeration may occur if the fraction is too large. The fatigue cracking resistance of asphalt pavements can be increased by up to 600% with basalt fibers. Furthermore, a 15% to 30% increase in low-temperature cracking resistance, a 25% to 40% increase in rutting resistance, and a significant improvement in water damage resistance can be achieved via the addition of basalt fibers [33].

2.3.2. Pavements Reinforced with BFRP Bars

Conventional steel bars corrode when deicing salt is adopted, leading to severe cracking on the pavement. Noncorrosive FRP bars can effectively solve this problem. BFRP bars can achieve long-distance continuous reinforcement owing to a coiling process, without the need for overlapping or welding like steel bars. The main construction process only involves the colligation of longitudinal and transverse bars, shortening the construction period by about 60%. Moreover, compared to the ordinary pavement, the number of cracks was decreased by 30%. In addition, the light weight of BFRP bars make them easy to transport, operate, and construct, saving labor costs significantly. In terms of long-term behavior, the shrinkage and cracking of concrete pavement slabs can be reduced, while the corrosion problem of steel bars caused by deicing salt on northern highway pavements can be solved, improving the durability of highways, and reducing maintenance and operation costs [34].

2.4. Cementitious Composites Reinforced with Basalt Fibers

Adding chopped fibers (steel fibers, PVA fibers, etc.) is an effective method to improve the poor toughness, weak crack resistance, and insufficient durability of cementitious composites. However, steel fibers have high hardness and density, which is not beneficial for mixing. As an organic fiber, PVA fibers have a high price and insufficient high temperature resistance, which are not suitable for the application in cementitious composites. Therefore, the low cost and flexibility of alkali-resistant basalt fibers are important prerequisites for their use in cementitious composites. The main technical indicators of basalt fiber-reinforced cementitious composites fiber diameter, length, fiber content, surface modification (alkali resistance and hydrophilicity), and mix proportion. Inappropriate fiber length may cause agglomeration or undesirable bridging effects. The fiber content of basalt fiber cement concrete should range from 2.5 to 3.5 kg/m3. The Fe3+ in basalt fibers reacts with OH− in an alkaline environment, and the reaction forms Fe(OH)3, which acts as a protective layer on the surface of the fiber. Adding zircon to the raw material of the basalt fiber can further enhance its alkali resistance [35]. When the mass fraction of zirconia in the fiber reaches 5.4%, the fiber has the strongest alkali resistance. In addition, the alkali resistance can also be enhanced by fiber surface coating.
Basalt fiber-reinforced cementitious composites have excellent flexural and tensile properties [36]. Compared to those without fibers, the tensile strength is increased by 50% to 100%, and the shear and flexural strength are increased by 20% to 50%. The impermeability reaches up to S12 level. The frost resistance can meet the requirements of 300 freeze–thaw cycles; the impact toughness is increased twofold; the fatigue life is increased by up to three times. In addition to the commonly used ordinary Portland cement concrete, cementitious composites such as geopolymer concrete have also been applied in road surfaces and prefabricated bridge decks in recent years. Experimental results have shown that basalt fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete has higher compressive and splitting strength compared to the concrete with ordinary Portland cement. In terms of dynamic performance, fiber content has no effect on the compressive strength of geopolymer, but it has a significant impact on deformability and energy dissipation capacity [37,38].

2.5. BFRP Anchor Bolt

Apart from the upper structures, the stability of the roadbed and foundation soil is also important for the safety of infrastructures. However, the anchor bolts in rock and soil are subjected to an acidic, alkaline, and humid environment. Metal anchor bolts are vulnerable to corrosion, causing significant safety hazards. The use of BFRP anchor bolts can effectively solve the above durability problems, and no time-consuming maintenance is necessary [39]. The main technical issue in BFRP anchor rod support is that the shear capacities of the tray thread and anchor bolts thread should be greater than the ultimate load of the anchor bolts. The production quality of the anchor bolts should be strictly controlled to ensure that the thread load-bearing capacity of anchor bolts with diameters of 16, 18, and 20 mm is greater than 60, 70, and 80 kN, respectively. Applying prestress to BFRP anchor bolts can effectively limit early deformation and can achieve more effective support (Figure 9). The prestress loss of BFRP anchor bolts is less than 25% when they are subjected to solid shrinkage deformation, due to a small elastic modulus around 50 GPa of BFRP. Thus, BFRP anchor bolts can provide effective prestress for a long service time.

2.6. Smart Structures with BFRP

Based on the aforementioned advantages of BFRP bars as reinforcements in concrete structures and the characteristics of long-gauge strain sensors, self-sensing BFRP bars (Figure 1) used in key structural parts were developed [40]. The self-sensing BFRP bars developed based on fiber optic- or carbon fiber-based long-gauge strain-sensing technology have advantages such as high durability and high sensing performance. On the one hand, it can replace the original steel bars in the structure. On the other hand, the combination of distributed sensing technology for damage identification and dynamic/static monitoring technology makes the structure have the functions such as sensing environmental changes and self-diagnosis.

2.7. Composite Structures with BFRP Profiles and Concrete

Among FRP profiles, GFRP are the most widely used due to their relatively low price. Compared with GFRP, BFRP profiles have higher elastic modulus and creep rupture stress. A composite bridge deck combined with a BFRP shell (a type of profile) and concrete was developed (Figure 10). BFRP laminates were used to apply prestress to the shell, providing a camber of the shell to counteract its deformation under construction load. By designing the web as a tooth shape and using tooth connection technology combined with a sand bonding process, the collaboration between concrete and shell, as well as the collaboration between the shells, is ensured [41]. The tooth connection significantly improves the mechanical interlocking between the shells, enhancing the synergistic behavior of the shells. When using a tooth connection, the load-bearing capacity of the bridge decks is increased by 56% compared to those without a tooth connection, and the fatigue test results show that its fatigue strength is 2.5 to 3 times that of ordinary RC bridge decks [42].

3. Prospect of Future Studies

3.1. BFRP Cables

High-performance FRP cables for large-span bridges have been developed to address the issues of excessive self-weight and poor durability of steel cables. Basalt fiber/carbon fiber cables with different hybridization ratios are arranged at different positions in the axial direction of the bridge, in order to optimize the comprehensive mechanical behavior and cost performance of the bridge. Focusing on the large-tonnage anchoring problem of FRP cables, a technology using variable stiffness load transfer materials has been proposed, and the anchorage is able to reduce the stress concentration significantly, similar to that in Figure 3 [43,44]. In addition, a self-damping cable based on BFRP combined with various FRP materials (Figure 11) [45] was proposed to improve the wind vibration performance of the cables. In the future, studies should be focused on the wind resistance and vibration reduction performance of BFRP cables and one-thousand-ton cable anchorage testing.

3.2. BFRP Truss Structures

BFRP truss structure is an effective way to achieve large span, light weight, and high durability of bridges. A lightweight FRP cable-supported truss bridge with a span of 54 m and a load-bearing capacity of thirty tons was constructed [46], using low-creep and high-fatigue-performance basalt/carbon fiber hybrid technology to reduce the self-weight by 40%. The low efficiency of joint connection is the key bottleneck of FRP truss structures. It was proposed to use a bolt–adhesive hybrid mechanical connection to effectively improve the fatigue and creep resistance of joints [47]. To address the issues of low efficiency in bolt connections and low utilization of profile strength, pre-tightened tooth connection technology was proposed (Figure 12) [48]. In order to further improve the efficiency of bolt connections, the future studies should be focused on the designability of ply design of fiber and the concept of fiber hybridization to achieve an integrated design of materials, joints, and structures.

3.3. BFRP with Thermoplastic Resin Matrix

With the use of a thermoplastic resin matrix, the issues of thermosetting BFRP bars such as the inability to reprocess at construction sites have been addressed. Experiments have shown that compared with thermosetting BFRPs, thermoplastic BFRPs have certain improvements in alkali corrosion resistance and fatigue performance [49]. Future studies can be focused on the high-temperature performance of thermoplastic BFRP bars and the mechanical behaviors of concrete structures reinforced with them.

3.4. Composite Piles with Basalt Fibers and Their Composites

The materials in conventional pile include steel, concrete, and timber, which are vulnerable to corrosive environments, resulting in high maintenance costs and structural safety issues. Basalt fiber composite piles are new types of foundation formed by combining basalt fiber material with conventional materials, which can greatly improve the load-bearing capacity of the pile. The types comprise basalt fiber-reinforced piles, basalt fiber-RC piles with steel core, concrete piles reinforced with BFRP bars, and concrete piles with BFRP tubes (Figure 13) [50,51]. The mechanical properties of these types of pile are the concern in the future studies.

4. Comparative Limitations

The characteristics of BFRP compared with CFRP and GFRP, which are the mainly used FRPs in infrastructures, are synthesized in this section (Table 1). In summary, CFRP performs the best among these three types of FRP in terms of mechanical property, and its unique conductivity can be used in structural monitoring. However, the high price limits its large-scale application in infrastructures. GFRP has the lowest cost among these three types of FRP, but it is not applicable as a prestressing material due to its insufficient mechanical property, especially the low creep rupture stress. In addition, the vulnerability in an alkaline environment of glass fibers makes them not applicable in asphalt or cementitious composites. In comparison, the cost performance of BFRP is the main reason why it enjoys a wide application prospect. Furthermore, combined with high-performance techniques such as high-temperature resistance, alkali resistance, and thermoplastic resin matrix, it can be expected that BFRP will become a mainstream reinforcement material in infrastructures.

5. Conclusions

Basalt fibers and their composites have competitive cost performance, compared with other types of FRP. Additionally, they have a green production process, which is beneficial for the sustainability of infrastructures. In this review, the characteristics of basalt fibers and their composites are introduced. Then, their application technologies are elaborated in detail, and finally, the newly developed applications are discussed.
(1) BFRP has a relative low price, and good short- and long-term behaviors, especially a relatively high one-million-hour creep rupture stress of 0.54 fu and a low one-thousand-hour relaxation rate of 2.6%. Furthermore, BFRP also possesses multi-function as an insulative, thermal-insulative, and low-magnetic material.
(2) Strengthening via prestressing basalt fiber sheet, BFRP bars, grid, or laminate can effectively improve the crack resistance, stiffness, and load-bearing capacity of structures. Novel anchorages alleviating the stress concentration at the anchor zone have been proposed to improve the anchoring efficiency.
(3) Effective confinement can be achieved on concrete columns via basalt fiber sheets, BFRP tubes, or grids, and the deformability and load-bearing capacity of columns are significantly improved. BFRP grids can also be used on underwater structures, overcoming the existing problems in their strengthening.
(4) BFRP bars can be used as the reinforcement in strengthening, new constructions of concrete structures, and pavements. The bond behavior between BFRP bars and concrete is important in their application. The BFRP bars with a desirable bond behavior can effectively improve the durability and the resilience of concrete structures. As the reinforcements in pavements, BFRP bars solve the problems of steel bar corrosion.
(5) Chopped basalt fibers can significantly improve the crack resistance and deformability of asphalt and cementitious composites. Fiber fineness, length, mass fraction, surface characteristics, and mix proportion are the important technical indicators and they should be taken into consideration in the design.
(6) Basalt fibers and their composites have wide application prospects, such as self-sensing BFRPs, thermoplastic BFRPs, BFRP–concrete composite structures, anchor bolts, cables, truss structures, and composite piles. The relevant technologies should be taken as the concern in the future studies, and these applications need to be promoted.
Despite the wide application prospects exhibited by basalt fibers and their composites in infrastructures, some additional research is necessary before they become a mainstream reinforcement material. Firstly, a comprehensive design methodology should be proposed based on the requirements of the construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructures, considering the properties of materials and structures. Secondly, the studies on the mechanical properties of BFRPs remain insufficient, especially when they are subjected to a combined effect of load and environment. Thirdly, the understanding of the mechanical behaviors of the structures with BFRPs under a long-term loading are not clear. Finally, the monitoring, inspection, and diagnosis techniques for the structures with BFRPs should be established.

Author Contributions

All authors have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by Basic Scientific Research Project Fund for Universities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Finance Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Grant No. XJEDU2025P012); The “Tianchi Talent” Introduction Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; National College Students’ Innovation Training Program of Xinjiang University (Grant No. 20242207210); The National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52478165 and 52208164); The Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. BK20220985); Science & Technology Department of Xin-jiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Grant No. 2024B04013-1).

Data Availability Statement

No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the anonymous referees for their constructive comments and suggestions.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. Products of basalt fibers and their composites.
Figure 1. Products of basalt fibers and their composites.
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Figure 2. Production of basalt fiber.
Figure 2. Production of basalt fiber.
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Figure 3. A novel composite-wedge anchorage.
Figure 3. A novel composite-wedge anchorage.
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Figure 4. Embedment of BFRP grids in the strengthening of underwater structures.
Figure 4. Embedment of BFRP grids in the strengthening of underwater structures.
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Figure 5. Stress state in the strengthening of grids.
Figure 5. Stress state in the strengthening of grids.
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Figure 6. Concrete structure reinforced with hybrid steel–BFRP bars.
Figure 6. Concrete structure reinforced with hybrid steel–BFRP bars.
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Figure 7. Bond–slip curves of FRP and steel bar.
Figure 7. Bond–slip curves of FRP and steel bar.
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Figure 8. Resilience of structures using BFRP bars.
Figure 8. Resilience of structures using BFRP bars.
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Figure 9. Prestressing BFRP anchor bolt.
Figure 9. Prestressing BFRP anchor bolt.
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Figure 10. Composite bridge deck with BFRP shell and concrete.
Figure 10. Composite bridge deck with BFRP shell and concrete.
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Figure 11. Schematic diagram of a self-damping cable (sectional view).
Figure 11. Schematic diagram of a self-damping cable (sectional view).
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Figure 12. Pre-tightened tooth connection.
Figure 12. Pre-tightened tooth connection.
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Figure 13. Basalt fibers or BFRP composite piles.
Figure 13. Basalt fibers or BFRP composite piles.
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Table 1. Comparative insights of BFRP, CFRP, and GFRP.
Table 1. Comparative insights of BFRP, CFRP, and GFRP.
Type of FRPBFRPCFRPGFRP
Mechanical propertiesStrength: 1000 to 1800 MPa
Elastic modulus: 50 to 70 GPa
Elongation: 2.0% to 2.8%		Strength: 1800 to 3000 MPa
Elastic modulus: 140 to 230 GPa
Elongation: about 1.5%		Strength: 800 to 1700 MPa
Elastic modulus: 40 to 60 GPa
Elongation: 2.0% to 3.0%
Functional propertiesInsulation, non-magnetismConductivity, non-magnetismInsulation, non-magnetism
Lifecycle cost [52]Relatively low construction and maintenance cost, especially when hybridizing with steelHigh construction cost, but low maintenance costLow construction cost, but high maintenance cost due to insufficient durability
Strengthening on beam or slabImprovement in cracking and yielding moment and load-bearing capacity; Relatively high ductilitySignificant improvement in cracking and yielding moment and load-bearing capacity; Relatively low ductilityImprovement in cracking and yielding moment and load-bearing capacity; Relatively high ductility
Confinement on columnSoftening stage in constitutive curveLinear constitutive curveSoftening stage in constitutive curve
Concrete structure or pavement reinforced with FRP barsApplicableNot applicable due to large difference in coefficient of thermal expansionApplicable
Asphalt or cementitious composites reinforced with chopped fibersApplicableNot applicable due to insufficient oil absorption and high priceNot applicable due to vulnerability in an alkaline environment
Prestressing anchor boltApplicableApplicable despite of relatively high prestress loss due to solid shrinkageNot applicable due to low creep rupture stress
Self-sensing materialCompatible with fiber opticSelf-sensing nature due to conductivityCompatible with fiber optic
Composite structuresRelatively large deformation during constructionRelatively small deformation during constructionRelatively large deformation during construction
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Yan, W.; Shi, J.; Cao, X.; Zhang, M.; Li, L.; Jiang, J. A Review on the Applications of Basalt Fibers and Their Composites in Infrastructures. Buildings 2025, 15, 2525. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142525

AMA Style

Yan W, Shi J, Cao X, Zhang M, Li L, Jiang J. A Review on the Applications of Basalt Fibers and Their Composites in Infrastructures. Buildings. 2025; 15(14):2525. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142525

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yan, Wenlong, Jianzhe Shi, Xuyang Cao, Meng Zhang, Lei Li, and Jingyi Jiang. 2025. "A Review on the Applications of Basalt Fibers and Their Composites in Infrastructures" Buildings 15, no. 14: 2525. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142525

APA Style

Yan, W., Shi, J., Cao, X., Zhang, M., Li, L., & Jiang, J. (2025). A Review on the Applications of Basalt Fibers and Their Composites in Infrastructures. Buildings, 15(14), 2525. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142525

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