Influence of solution binder ratio on behaviour of Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag based Geopolymer Concrete

Abstract

In recent years the word sustainability has become a priority of many researchers. In this regard, many evolutions were put forth in the concrete industry one of them is Geopolymer concrete. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) is used as source material which is rich in alumina and silica contents, which forms alumina silicate gel when mixed with an alkali solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate which then binds with aggregate. Till now many researchers had done research on Geopolymer concrete using Fly ash as major binding material. Literature is also available on Geopolymer concrete with GGBS as major binding material but the behaviour of Geopolymer concrete was not studied widely by varying solution binder ratio. In this research, the behaviour of GGBS based Geopolymer concrete was studied, by replacing fly ash with 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% and varying solution/binder (s/b) ratio 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6. The mix proportions were prepared by taking a ratio of 1:1:3 by weight and all the specimens were cured at ambient temperature. Mechanical properties such as compressive strength, tensile strength and flexure strength were determined. A sulphate attack test was also conducted. As quantity of FA increased, strength decreased.