Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) based Concrete Exposed to Artificial Marine Environment(AME) and Sustainable Retrofitting using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) sheets

Abstract

Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag has been constantly in use as cementitious replacement for sustainable infrastructure. But little is known about interaction of GGBS based concrete with marine environment. These days due to therapid development in offshore engineering marine environment and its simulation has come under limelight. Temperature fluctuation has also become a subject of interest for concrete structures.In our study we have casted sixteen numbers (16) of cylinders of M25 grade (BIS code specification) out of which 8 were incorporated with GGBS. Four cylinders of normal concrete and four cylinders of GGBS based concrete were exposed to artificially created marine environment in a temperature controlled curing tank. 3% NaCl+CaCl2 by weight solution is prepared for substitution of marine water.The ambient temperature in the curing tank is fluctuated between 25C to 50C for 60days to study the changes in GGBS based concrete strength in elevated temperatures. Nowadays Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer has become a favorite choice for sustainable retrofit for concrete structures. An attempt has been made to retrofit the concrete exposed to marine environment. The results shows a substantial increase in strength after retrofitting.