Abstract

This study assesses the behaviour of self-compacting geopolymer concrete (SCGC) with and without recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) by studying the rheological, mechanical and durability properties and comparison with self-compacting concrete (SCC). The idea of using RCA in geopolymer is to attain sustainable development goals, i.e., with less carbon footprint and the use of waste materials such as fly ash and RCA. Two types of concretes were prepared, namely “self-compacting concrete (SCC)” and “self-compacting geopolymer concrete (SCGC)”. Using each concrete type, two design mixes were prepared. The first mix contained 100% natural coarse aggregates (NCA), whereas, in the second mix, 30% NCA were replaced with RCA. The result of rheological properties indicated that the viscosity, passing ability, and segregation results of SCC and SCGC mixes were higher when NCA was partially replaced with RCA. Results of mechanical properties indicated that the increase in the compressive strength of the control mix of SCC (denoted as SCC-0) and SCGC mix (denoted as SCGC-0) at 28 days was 38.3% and 33.1% higher than those containing 30% RCA (denoted as SCC-30 and SCGC-30), respectively. The percentage increase in the compressive strength of SCC-0 and SCC-30 mixes was 20.24% and 13.45% higher compared to SCGC-0 and SCGC-30 mixes. The increase in the split tensile strength of SCC-0 and SCC-30 mixes was 9% and 21.74% higher than SCGC-0 and SCGC-30 mixes. The split tensile strength of control mixes SCC-0 and SCGC-0 is 47.73% and 55% higher than SCC-30 and SCGC-30 at 28 days, respectively. Durability performance of SCC and SCGC mixes was investigated by performing hydraulic permeability, accelerated carbonation, half-cell potential and pull-out tests at 28, 90, 180, 365, and 720 days, and were found inferior for SCGC mixes. The water penetration depth of SCGC-0 and SCGC-30 mixes was 5.71% to 16.1% and 10% to 18.6% higher than SCC-0 and SCC-30 mixes at 28 to 720 days. The carbonation depth in SCGC-0 and SCGC-30 mixes was 8.11% to 20.83% and 7.89% to 13.73% higher than SCC-0 and SCC-30 mixes at 28 to 720 days. The half-cell potential difference results for SCGC-0 and SCGC-30 mixes were 27.5% to 50% and 8.3% to 16.41% higher than SCC-0 and SCC-30 mixes at 28 to 720 days. The pull-out strength of SCC-0 and SCC-30 mixes was 11.36% to 29.5% and 8.3% to 38.97% higher than SCGC-0 and SCGC-30 mixes at 28 to 720 days, respectively. Overall, the mechanical and durability properties of SCC mixes were better than SCGC at the same exposure period.

Highlights

  • Self-compacting geopolymer concrete (SCGC) is comparatively a fresh notion and can be regarded as an innovative development in the area of concrete technology

  • Based on a study [22] conducted at the Department of Civil Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, it was found that the compression test results of replacement percentages 0 and 30% differ no more than 20% to 30% from values obtained for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete

  • The results of water penetration tests of self-compacting concrete (SCC) and self-compacting geopolymer concrete (SCGC) mixes are presented in Figures 9 and 10, which demonstrate that there is an increment in the water penetration depth at all ages using 30% recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) content in the SCC-30 and SCGC-30 mixes as compared to the control SCC-0 and SCGC-0 mixes

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Summary

Introduction

Self-compacting geopolymer concrete (SCGC) is comparatively a fresh notion and can be regarded as an innovative development in the area of concrete technology. Salihi and Younis [21] observed the effect of Na2 SiO3 /NaOH and the molarity of NaOH on the rheological behaviour of SCGC, and the literature review further identifies that the replacement percentage of 30% can safely be adopted to study the behaviour of SCC and SCGC using RCA The behaviour of these two concretes was compared, which indicates that the replacement of up to 30% natural aggregate fraction with recycled aggregate is feasible, as only 10% to 20% difference in mechanical and durability test results were observed. This research is a step towards the development of the construction industry by providing useful information for the practical use of recycled aggregate in concrete production

Experimental Program
Fresh State Properties
Hardened State Properties
Compression Test
Split Tension Test
Durability Properties
Accelerated Carbonation Test
Salt Spray and Half-Cell Potential Test
Pull-Out Test
Conclusions
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