Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete Research Articles

Performance Changes in Mass and Compressive Strength of High-Calcium Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete Due to Sodium Sulphate Exposure

Performance Changes in Mass and Compressive Strength of High-Calcium Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete Due to Sodium Sulphate Exposure

Utilizing an enhanced machine learning approach for geopolymer concrete analysis

ABSTRACT The flyash-based geopolymer concrete has been extensively utilized to minimize carbon emissions for over 15 years. The compressive strength (CS), split tensile strength (STS), and flexural strength (FS) of concrete determine its mechanical characteristics. Laboratory strength testing and analytical methods is costly and time-consuming, which struggle to predict complicated concrete combination CS, STS, and FS. ML models accurately predict CS, STS, FS. To predict the CS, STS, and FS of GPC concrete, five ML techniques (LR, SVM, GPR, EL, and ANN) were adopted. Taylor diagrams and error graphs adopted to represents model performances. The GPR outperforms other models in CS predictions by having the lowest MAE, RMSE, MAPE, and R-values. GPR continues to outperform in STS predictions, with low MAE, RMSE, and MAPE, as well as high R-values. GPR outperforms FS predictions with low MAE, RMSE, MAPE, and high R-values. SVM is excellent since it has a low MAE and RMSE. SVM, GPR, and ANN optimisations keep them competitive. GPR consistently gets the lowest MAPE values across all three tests, indicating that it is a strong model contender. The created model can forecast the mechanical characteristics of geopolymer concrete with ease and better reproducibility.

Effect of Ground Granulated Blast Slag and Temperature Curing on the Strength of Fly Ash-based Geopolymer Concrete

Concrete is used most extensively after water to meet construction requirements. Since the population is increasing day by day, the demand for concrete will always increase, hence, the demand for cement will also increase. The production of cement requires a lot of energy and emits greenhouse gases into the environment. Therefore, an alternative material for cement concrete is required. Geopolymer concrete (GPC) is an alternative to cement made of aluminosilicate materials such as fly ash, Ground Granulated Blast Slag (GGBS), silica fume, metakaolin, etc. If these materials are activated with an alkaline activator, then a bond that is responsible for the strength develops. GPC made with fly ash needs temperature curing to develop its strength, which limits its use on a large scale. In this study, a mix ratio of GPC equivalent to conventional M20 concrete was obtained at ambient curing conditions. The effect of temperature curing was also studied. GPC was prepared in three different mixes. In each mix, the binder content was changed by varying the fly ash and GGBS content. Two sets of cube, beam, and cylindrical samples were prepared from each mixture. One set was cured at ambient temperatures and the other at increased temperatures. The temperature-cured specimens provided higher strength than the ambient-cured. If a strength equivalent to conventional M20 concrete is required for ambient curing, then the mix should be 70% fly ash and 30% GGBS, and the ratio of binder, fine aggregate, and coarse aggregate should be 1:1.5:3.

Mechanical Framework for Geopolymer Gels Construction: An Optimized LSTM Technique to Predict Compressive Strength of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Gels Concrete.

As an environmentally responsible alternative to conventional concrete, geopolymer concrete recycles previously used resources to prepare the cementitious component of the product. The challenging issue with employing geopolymer concrete in the building business is the absence of a standard mix design. According to the chemical composition of its components, this work proposes a thorough system or framework for estimating the compressive strength of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete (FAGC). It could be possible to construct a system for predicting the compressive strength of FAGC using soft computing methods, thereby avoiding the requirement for time-consuming and expensive experimental tests. A complete database of 162 compressive strength datasets was gathered from the research papers that were published between the years 2000 and 2020 and prepared to develop proposed models. To address the relationships between inputs and output variables, long short-term memory networks were deployed. Notably, the proposed model was examined using several soft computing methods. The modeling process incorporated 17 variables that affect the CSFAG, such as percentage of SiO2 (SiO2), percentage of Na2O (Na2O), percentage of CaO (CaO), percentage of Al2O3 (Al2O3), percentage of Fe2O3 (Fe2O3), fly ash (FA), coarse aggregate (CAgg), fine aggregate (FAgg), Sodium Hydroxide solution (SH), Sodium Silicate solution (SS), extra water (EW), superplasticizer (SP), SH concentration, percentage of SiO2 in SS, percentage of Na2O in SS, curing time, curing temperature that the proposed model was examined to several soft computing methods such as multi-layer perception neural network (MLPNN), Bayesian regularized neural network (BRNN), generalized feed-forward neural networks (GFNN), support vector regression (SVR), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and LSTM. Three main innovations of this study are using the LSTM model for predicting FAGC, optimizing the LSTM model by a new evolutionary algorithm called the marine predators algorithm (MPA), and considering the six new inputs in the modeling process, such as aggregate to total mass ratio, fine aggregate to total aggregate mass ratio, FASiO2:Al2O3 molar ratio, FA SiO2:Fe2O3 molar ratio, AA Na2O:SiO2 molar ratio, and the sum of SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3 percent in FA. The performance capacity of LSTM-MPA was evaluated with other artificial intelligence models. The results indicate that the R2 and RMSE values for the proposed LSTM-MPA model were as follows: MLPNN (R2 = 0.896, RMSE = 3.745), BRNN (R2 = 0.931, RMSE = 2.785), GFFNN (R2 = 0.926, RMSE = 2.926), SVR-L (R2 = 0.921, RMSE = 3.017), SVR-P (R2 = 0.920, RMSE = 3.291), SVR-S (R2 = 0.934, RMSE = 2.823), SVR-RBF (R2 = 0.916, RMSE = 3.114), DT (R2 = 0.934, RMSE = 2.711), RF (R2 = 0.938, RMSE = 2.892), LSTM (R2 = 0.9725, RMSE = 1.7816), LSTM-MPA (R2 = 0.9940, RMSE = 0.8332), and LSTM-PSO (R2 = 0.9804, RMSE = 1.5221). Therefore, the proposed LSTM-MPA model can be employed as a reliable and accurate model for predicting CSFAG. Noteworthy, the results demonstrated the significance and influence of fly ash and sodium silicate solution chemical compositions on the compressive strength of FAGC. These variables could adequately present variations in the best mix designs discovered in earlier investigations. The suggested approach may also save time and money by accurately estimating the compressive strength of FAGC with low calcium content.

Circular production of recycled binder from fly ash-based geopolymer concrete

This paper presents an investigation into the potential of recycling fly ash - based geopolymer concrete, to produce a recycled binder for circular re – use as starting material. The aforementioned would be a significant advantage over Portland cement which is non – recyclable, owing to its irreversible hydration. The experiment conducted involved crushing and sieving old parent fly ash – based geopolymer concrete, to separate out the paste from aggregate. The paste was then pulverized using a ball – mill to produce the recycled aluminosilicate starting material, herein referred to as recycled geopolymer cement (RGPC). Fly ash was blended with 0 to 100% RGPC, then used to prepare fresh geopolymer paste and mortar mixtures activated using a binary alkali activator consisting of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. Samples were cast then cured at 23 or 80 °C. The various tests done were workability, setting time, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, drying shrinkage, water absorption, and volume of permeable pores. Analytical studies were done using X – ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier – transform infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that incorporation of RGPC into geopolymer mixtures generally led to reduction of workability and setting time, reduction of compressive and tensile strength, along with increase in drying shrinkage. It was, however, found that up to 60% RGPC can be incorporated into geopolymer mixtures while maintaining adequate performance suitable for structural applications. Unlike Portland cement, hardened geopolymer concrete is evidently recyclable to produce a circularly re – usable binder.

Impact of coconut husk microcrystalline cellulose on the properties of geopolymer lightweight concrete

Geopolymer composite is an alternative to ordinary Portland cement. It has potential to avoid CO2 emissions to the atmosphere and to save raw materials during its manufacture. Flyash-based geopolymer concrete is altered by adding ground granulated bast-furnace slag (GGBS) to improve its fresh and hardened properties. Thermal ash aggregate is used as coarse aggregate to reduce geopolymer concrete density, improve strength, and conserve natural aggregate. Along with this matrix, coconut husk microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is added to enhance its performance. In a M40 grade flyash and GGBS-based geopolymer concrete, MCC was used to replace fly ash at 1% to 5% levels. The geopolymer composites were tested for slump, compression, split tensile, water absorption, and acid resistance to determine the way coconut husk MCC interacts with lightweight concrete. An inclusion of 3% MCC with geopolymer composites improved 2% slump, 6% of compressive and split tensile strength. About 1.6% of water absorption was reduced in GPC matrix with 3% of MCC. Meanwhile 3% of MCC in geopolymer concrete improved, 4% of weight and 7% of strength under acid exposure. The research strongly supported utilizing MCC in geopolymer concrete to render it more sustainable and eco-friendlier.

Evaluation of strength and durability properties of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete containing GGBS and dolomite

Evaluation of strength and durability properties of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete containing GGBS and dolomite

Behavior and Correlations between different Mechanical Properties of Fly Ash-based Geopolymer Concrete

Behavior and Correlations between different Mechanical Properties of Fly Ash-based Geopolymer Concrete

Effect on properties of geopolymer concrete by inclusion of recycled aggregate and methods to enhance the packing density of aggregate

Purpose This study aims to practically determine the optimum proportion of aggregates to attain the desired strength of geopolymer concrete (GPC) and then compare the results using established analytical particle packing methods. The investigation further aims to assess the influence of various amounts of recycled aggregate (RA) on properties of low-calcium fly ash-based GPC of grade M25. Design/methodology/approach Fine and coarse aggregates were blended in various proportions and the proportion yielding maximum packing density was selected as the optimum proportion and they were compared with analytical models, such as Modified Toufar Model (MTM) and J. D. Dewar Model. RAs for this study were produced in laboratory and they were used in various amounts, namely, 0%, 50% and 100%. 12M NaOH solution was mixed with Na2SiO3 in the ratio of 1:2. The curing of concrete was done at the temperatures of 60° and 90 °C for 24, 48 and 72h. Findings The experimentally obtained optimum proportion of coarse to fine aggregate was 60:40 for all amounts of RA. Meanwhile, MTM and Dewar Model resulted in coarse aggregate to fine aggregates as 40:60, 45:55, 55:45 and 55:45, 35:65, 60:40, respectively, for 0% 100% and 50% RAs. The compressive strength of GPC elevated with the increase in curing regime. In addition, the ultrasonic pulse velocity also displayed a similar trend as that of strength. Originality/value The GPC with 50% RAs may be considered for use, as it exhibited superior properties compared to GPC with 100% RAs and was comparable to GPC with natural aggregates. Furthermore, compressive strength is correlated with split tensile strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity.

Optimization of constituent proportions for compressive strength of sustainable geopolymer concrete: A statistical approach

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) is an environmentally friendly and sustainable concrete produced through the geopolymerization process, involving the combination of alumino silicate materials with alkaline solutions. It has unique advantage of being carbon-negative which helps reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. One challenge with making GPC is the significant variation in compressive strength that arises from differences in constituent proportions, specimen ages, andcuring conditions. There is a need to optimize the GPC constituents to achieve the desired compressive strength. To address this issue, a comprehensive dataset comprising 1242 data points from existing literature on fly ash-based GPC (FA-based GPC) was compiled for the purpose of optimizing the constituent proportions of GPC using statistical analysis. Nine independent variables were selected to develop the predictive models for compressive strength using linear (LRA), multilinear (MRA), and non-linear (NRA) regression analyses. The models were assessed using scatter plots between experimental and predicted responses and adopting the performance criteria such as the statistical significance of the model unknowns, R2 values, root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and scatter index (SI). LRA revealed that the compressive strength of GPC is not dependent on any single independent variable. Therefore regression analysis with multiple independent variables was conducted. From MRA, ±15 % error for training dataset and (15–20) % error for validating dataset was estimated. The R2, RMSE, MAE, and SI values were found to be 0.8086, 6.11, 5.35, and 0.21. NRA predicted the compressive strength more efficiently because it provides the error ±10 % for both training and validating datasets with R2, RMSE, MAE, SI values of 0.8321, 5.46, 4.77, and 0.19. Further, curing temperature, specimen age, Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio, I/b ratio, and aggregate content were found as the most significant independent variables. The time and cost-effective design mix for FA based GPC can be prepared using the regression models presented in the current work.

Influence of chemical constituents of binder and activator in predicting compressive strength of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete using firefly-optimized hybrid ensemble machine learning model

This study focuses on investigating the impact of chemical constituents in binders and activators on the prediction of strength, particularly proposing a novel hybrid ensemble model that synergizes the strengths of three base models optimized using the Firefly Algorithm. The primary objective is to enhance the accuracy of predicting the compressive strength (CS) of fly ash-based (FA) geopolymer concrete (GPC). The dataset employed encompasses comprehensive material and chemical information, facilitating a predictive approach linking factors to strength. Rigorous preprocessing techniques are employed to eliminate outliers and ensure data integrity. Multivariate analyses are executed to visually represent the dataset's structure. The development of the hybrid ensemble model is realized through a stacking strategy, integrating the predictive capabilities of individual models. Thorough evaluation using diverse statistical metrics validates the superiority of the hybrid model compared to standalone base models, underscoring its enhanced precision in CS prediction for FA-based GPC. Sobol and FAST global sensitivity analysis was also employed to find the influence of input parameters on strength. Extra water content and curing temperature with Sobol indices of 67.2% and 42.5%, and FAST indices of 65.2% and 45% were found to be the most sensitive parameters of the studied database. Among the chemical constituents of binders and activators, the SiO2 content and CaO content of FA exhibited greater sensitivity, impacting the CS. On the other hand, the Na2O, Al2O3, and Fe2O3 content of fly ash and the SiO2 and Na2O percentage of sodium silicate were found to have a relatively lower impact.

Enhancing the properties of geopolymer concrete using nano-silica and microstructure assessment: a sustainable approach

Nowadays low calcium fly ash-based geopolymer concrete can be replaced with cement-based concrete to avoid the adverse effect of manufacturing cement on the environment. Utilization of geopolymer concrete instead of traditional concrete using low calcium fly ash and nano silica reduces a significant amount of CO­2 emission towards the atmosphere. However, the performance of geopolymer concrete is less than that of Portland cement concrete. To improve the performance of geopolymer concrete nano silica was used in the present study. In this work, geopolymer concrete was made utilizing fly ash, ground granular blast furnace slag (GGBS), and sugarcane bagasse ash. In the first instance, binary combinations i.e. fly ash and GGBS were employed as cementitious materials for the production of geopolymer concrete. In the second instance, a ternary mixture of pozzolanic material was prepared by taking 25% GGBS, 65% Fly ash, and 10% bagasse ash. In the third instance, varying percentages of nanoparticles were used for the above ternary mixture. The mechanical and durability properties of the geopolymer composite that was made earlier were tested. The compressive strength and split tensile strength of geopolymer composites were assessed for mechanical properties and a rapid chloride permeability test, water absorption test, and acid attack test were done to know about the porosity of concrete. Results showed that, with a dose of 4% nanoparticles, the durability and strength properties of the concrete had improved the most. The GCBA-N4 mixture had the highest split tensile and compressive strength was measured to be 2.91 MPa and 41.33 MPa and the rapid chloride permeability test, water absorption rate, and percentage of mass loss due to sulfate attack were found as a minimum for GCBA-N4 specimen.

A Proposed New Mix Proportioning Method for Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete

A Proposed New Mix Proportioning Method for Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete

Prediction of Compressive Strength of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete Using Supervised Machine Learning Methods

Prediction of Compressive Strength of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete Using Supervised Machine Learning Methods

Effect of graphene nanoplatelets on engineering properties of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete containing crumb rubber and its optimization using response surface methodology

The research aims to investigate the effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on mechanical properties, workability as well as microstructure of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete containing crumb rubber (CR) through experiments and response surface methodology (RSM). A total of 20 mix designs were utilized, with 10–30% volume replacement of fine aggregate with CR and addition of 0.1–0.4% GNPs by weight of binder. All mix designs were studied for attributes including slump flow, compressive strength, stress-strain behavior, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, flexural strength, toughness, impact resistance, water absorption, and porosity. Morphological changes due to crack formation, microstructure, and interfacial interaction between aggregate and mortar were evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Vickers microhardness tests were carried out from the surface of aggregate towards the matrix to evaluate the interfacial transition zone. Results indicated that CR replacement reduced the mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete, while GNPs inclusion mitigated the negative effects of CR and significantly enhanced the properties of the geopolymer concrete. Results also revealed that 0.3% addition of GNPs increased the compressive strength, elastic modulus, tensile strength, and flexural toughness of the concrete containing the CR. Moreover, addition of 0.3% GNPs in specimens having 30% CR enhanced the average microhardness by 34%, which demonstrates that GNPs addition improved the matrix compactness and interfacial transition zone between CR and matrix. Multi-objective optimization with RSM was accomplished for the combined use of CR and GNPs in fly ash-based geopolymer concrete. RSM results showed that combination of 10% CR and 0.2% GNPs is the best combination for achieving the highest strength properties with the lowest percentage of GNPs.

Low-carbon enhancement of fly ash geopolymer concrete: Lateral deformation, microstructure evolution and environmental impact

To provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional cement-based concrete, the use of fly ash based geopolymer concrete (FGC) has been explored. However, FGC typically requires high-temperature curing to achieve optimal material performance, which results in significant energy consumption and carbon emissions, leading to negative environmental impacts. To address this issue, a small amount of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) has been added to FGC, facilitating its setting and hardening at room temperature. At four different ages, a series of basic mechanical properties were tested, including Poisson's ratio. At 28 days, the resulting OPC-FGC has demonstrated comparable polymerization reactions and mechanical properties to heat-cured FGC, including lateral deformation ability and compressive behavior. Microscopic tests have shown that OPC-FGC has a denser matrix and a more reasonable pore structure distribution over time than heat-cured FGC. Furthermore, a life cycle assessment has indicated that OPC-FGC has a lower negative impact than heat-cured FGC. These findings suggest that OPC-FGC can be a viable substitute for conventional cement-based concrete, providing both mechanical properties and environmental benefits in engineering applications.

Influence of marine environment on durability and microstructural properties of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete

Influence of marine environment on durability and microstructural properties of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete

Evaluation of durability and microstructure evolution of chloride added fly ash and fly ash-GGBS based geopolymer concrete

The evaluation of corrosion behaviour of rebar and changes in microstructure evolution in geopolymer concrete (GPC) in the presence of chloride ions form an important aspect of durability investigation. For this purpose, an experimental investigation was undertaken to examine the corrosion of reinforcing steel and changes in microstructure development of fly ash based geopolymer concrete (FGC) and fly ash-GGBS based geopolymer concrete (FSGC) containing chloride ions. Corrosion behaviour was evaluated through corrosion potential (Ecor) and corrosion current density (Icor) and microstructural changes of GPC were examined at various ages and that at rebar level by XRD, EDS, FTIR, and FESEM analyses. Test results revealed that chloride ions had significant influence on consistency, strength, and microstructure of GPC. NaCl improved the consistency of GPC mixes. FSGC mixes showed 38.1% to 114.2% higher strength than FGC mixes at all ages irrespective of NaCl concentration. Further, GPC mixes exhibited lower strength with increase in NaCl concentration at all ages. Rebar embedded in FSGC specimens exhibited mostly less negative Ecor and lower Icor compared to FGC specimens. Results of chloride analysis revealed lack of chloride binding in GPC mixes. Higher peak intensity of aluminosilicate gels and presence of C-S-H gel in FSGC mixes as identified from XRD analysis and higher atomic Ca/Si ratio in FSGC mixes obtained from EDS analysis confirmed the improved performance of FSGC mixes in terms of higher strength, lower corrosion activity and lower chloride content over FGC mixes.

Hydration, Microstructure, and Properties of Fly Ash–Based Geopolymer: A Review

Abstract Geopolymers have gained attention as a potential eco-friendly alternative to Portland cement, primarily due to their reduced carbon dioxide emissions and the opportunity to repurpose industrial waste materials. Fly ash (FA), a byproduct of coal combustion, has been favored as a raw material for geopolymer concrete owing to its widespread availability and high concentrations of alumina and silica. The development and application of fly ash–based geopolymer concrete can contribute significantly to production of sustainable construction materials. An in-depth analysis of fly ash–based geopolymer concrete has been conducted to explore its potential as a substitute for traditional concrete. This review encompasses the underlying reaction mechanism, strength, long-term durability, and microstructural characteristics of geopolymer concrete. The present review paper shows that adding the optimal quantity of fly ash improves the performance of fly ash–based geopolymer when exposed to extreme durability conditions, as well as improving strength properties. The microstructural analysis shows that when fly ash is added, the microstructure of the concrete matrix would be dense and packed. However, challenges remain in adopting fly ash–based geopolymer concrete for large-scale construction projects, as the existing literature presents inconsistencies in the reported strength, durability, and test results. Further research is necessary to consolidate knowledge on the behavior and mechanism of fly ash–based geopolymer concrete and to ultimately provide comprehensive data to support its widespread implementation in the construction industry.

Effect of curing conditions on the compressive strength of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete

The utilization of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in concrete construction has led to significant environmental concerns, including the depletion of natural resources and the release of CO2 emissions during its production. To address these issues, the development of cement-less concrete known as geopolymer concrete (GPC) offers a promising solution. GPC can be produced by utilizing industrial waste materials, thereby promoting environmental sustainability. In this study, fly ash, an industrial waste, was used as a key component in the production of GPC.The research focused on investigating the effects of various variables on the workability and compressive strength of GPC. Specifically, the molarity of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions (6 M, 9 M, 12 M, and 14 M), curing temperatures (30 °C, 60 °C, and 90 °C), and curing periods (7, 14, and 28 days) were examined. The performance of GPC was compared to that of OPC-based control concrete.The results obtained from the experiments exhibited promising outcomes, highlighting the potential of fly ash-based GPC as an alternative to OPC-based concrete. The study revealed that GPC achieved desirable workability and compressive strength when subjected to specific combinations of the examined variables.By utilizing fly ash as an industrial waste material, GPC not only addresses environmental concerns associated with OPC but also contributes to sustainable construction practices. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the feasibility of utilizing fly ash-based GPC as a viable alternative to OPC-based concrete, emphasizing its potential for reducing environmental impact in the construction industry.