Variation in fresh and mechanical properties of GGBFS based self-compacting geopolymer concrete in the presence of NCA and RCA

Abstract

Current work depicts the study of fresh and strength characteristics of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) based Self-Compacting Geopolymer Concrete (SCGC) with Natural Coarse Aggregate (NCA) and Recycled Coarse Aggregate (RCA) by variation of critical parameters like molarity of sodium hydroxide and ratio in alkali activated solution with their admissible wide range of variations. All the fresh property tests of SCGC like segregation resistance (SR), filling ability (FLA), passing ability (PA), and mechanical properties like unconfined compression test, tensile test were performed to examine the attainment of SCGC with NCA and RCA. The critical parameters: molarity of sodium hydroxide and ratio of alkali activated solution for design of the SCGC mix were 10 M, 12 M, 14 M and 2, 2.5, 3 respectively. Other materials like superplasticizer, extra water quantity in the mix were considered from existing research. Mix designs for the production of SCGC were prepared considering NCA and RCA separately. Source material used in current research was GGBFS. All SCGC mixes with several combination was stable as per EFNARC 2002 guidelines. Mixes with NCA performed better and SCGC mix with 12 M and AAS ratio 2.5 were stood competitive than all other mixes.