Research and Application of Fiber-Reinforced Thermal Insulating Concrete for Seismic and Energy-Efficient Retrofitting of Existing Rural Buildings

In response to the dual problems of weak seismic resistance and poor thermal performance of existing buildings in rural areas of our country, as well as the drawbacks of traditional renovation schemes where “structural reinforcement” and “energy-saving renovation” are disconnected, with complex procedures and high costs, this paper has developed a new type of integrated structural-functional material - fiber-reinforced insulation concrete. By adding high-toughness fibers (polypropylene/basalt, 0.1% - 0.5%) and lightweight insulation aggregates (glass microbeads/expanded perlite, substitution rate 20% - 60%) to ordinary concrete, the synergistic improvement of seismic resistance and energy-saving performance is achieved. After orthogonal experiments to optimize the ratio, the “0.3% basalt fiber + 40% glass microbeads” fiber-reinforced insulation concrete developed in this study has achieved a 78% increase in seismic resistance and a 30% reduction in thermal conductivity, and has realized the coordinated optimization of structure and energy-saving performance, providing a feasible path and empirical support for the “one material for dual effects” renovation of rural buildings. The material demonstrates excellent compatibility with existing rural building materials and can be applied via simple spraying or coating techniques, significantly reducing renovation time and cost. Long-term performance tracking confirms the material’s durability under various environmental conditions, maintaining stable performance over 5-year monitoring periods.