Mixture Design of High-Strength Geopolymer Concrete

Abstract

In the present day, the primary issue associated with the use of Ordinary Portland Cement-based concrete is the emission of CO2. This type of concrete has a significant adverse environmental effect due to the substantial release of carbon dioxide during the calcination of limestone and the combustion of associated fuels. These processes are responsible for approximately 6–9% of the global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.Geopolymer concrete serves as a viable substitute for traditional Portland cement-based concrete, as it is created through the interaction of aluminosilicate-rich source materials with highly alkaline solutions. By utilizing geopolymer concrete made from pulverized fuel-ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), it becomes possible to decrease the carbon footprint and, consequently, mitigate the greenhouse effect.The main objective of this study is to develop high-strength geopolymer concrete suitable for road pavements. The materials used for this purpose includes fly ash, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag, coarse and fine aggregates and alkaline solutions. Specifically, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with a molarity of 12 and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) in a 1:2 ratio are the chosen alkaline liquids for the geopolymerization process. Water is also incorporated, and a poly-carboxylate ether-based superplasticizer is employed to enhance the workability of fresh fly-ash-based geopolymer concrete. The compressive strength targeted in this research is M60 for the high-strength geopolymer concrete.