Experimental Study of Alkali-Excited Steel Slag–Granulated Blast Furnace Slag–Cement-Based Grouting Material Based on Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

This study aims to refine the ratio of alkali-activated steel slag (SS) to granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS)–cement-based grouting materials, with the dual objectives of cost reduction and performance enhancement. By employing single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM), we have pinpointed the critical factors that influence the slurry’s performance and developed a regression model to assess the impact of these factors and their interplay. Our findings indicate that the compressive strength initially increases with higher SS content but subsequently declines. Additionally, an increase in alkali content and activator modulus is beneficial for strength improvement. However, beyond an alkali content of 8%, the 28-day strength is observed to decrease. Through meticulous model analysis, we have determined the optimal ratio to be 7.07% SS content, 7.82% alkali content, and an activator modulus of 1.8. The material’s performance at this ratio satisfies construction specifications. This research not only offers a cost-effective and high-performance grouting solution for geotechnical applications but also pioneers a novel approach to the resourceful utilization of solid waste materials, such as SS.