Effect and influence of fly ash and GGBS on properties of ambient cured self-compacting geopolymer concrete for in situ applications

Abstract

Energy conservation and sustainable green construction with reduced environmental footprint can be achieved by Self-Compacting Geopolymer Concrete (SCGC). SCGC is an inorganic polymer binder which is a zero Portland Cement (PC) concrete. Geopolymers undergoes geopolymerization which transforms aluminosilicate based waste materials or industrial by-products into green construction material with excellent engineering properties. In recent years, the rapid upswing in research and development corresponding to Geopolymer Concrete (GPC) has indeed declared that the use of GPC provide the substantial potential in resolving not only the waste management problems associated to the aluminosilicate solid waste materials produced from various industries, but also the environmental degradation related to the use of PC as primary binder material in the construction industry. The results of recent investigations are symptomatic that GPC made using different industrial by-products unveiled similar or better physical, mechanical and durability performances compared to PC concrete. The current experimental evaluation scrutinizes the effectiveness of fly ash and GGBS on the improvement of workability, compressive strength and durability performances of SCGC. In order to eliminate accelerated thermal curing and to produce SCGC for in situ applications fly ash was replaced by GGBS (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) the obtained results revealed that increase in GGBS content in the mix concurrently improves the compressive strength and durability performance. Out of 5 different series of SCGC mix optimum mix was achieved when 75% GGBS and 25% fly ash was used, this mix not only exhibited better compressive strength and durability but also produced adequate workability within the EFNARC limits for Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC).