Experimental Study of Geopolymer Concrete in Construction of Rigid Pavement

Abstract

Geopolymer concrete is an inorganic alumino-silicate polymer. In the present experimental study of geopolymer concrete, the ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, sodium hydroxide solution of molarity 14 and sodium silicate solution of molarity 14 are used to prepare geopolymer concrete mixture. The ground granulated blast furnace slag used here is taken from Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Raigarh. Different proportions of the constituents are mixed to get different mixtures such as F90G10, F80G20, and F60G40. Where F stands for fly ash and G stands for ground granulated blast furnace slag. F90G10 consist of 90% fly ash and 10% ground granulated blast furnace slag, F80G20 consists of 80% fly ash and 20% ground granulated blast furnace slag and F60G40 consist of 60% fly ash and 40% ground granulated blast furnace slag. The mixture prepared is of grade M40. The water cement ratio is 0.5. In one batch, 12 cube specimens are casted. The size of the cube specimen is 100 mm×100 mm×100 mm. The cube specimens are tested for their residual compressive strength and split tensile strength at the age of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days respectively. Workability test of the specimen is also carried out. Geopolymer concrete reduces 80–90% carbon dioxide emissions as compared to the ordinary Portland cement concrete. The main advantages of geopolymer concrete are durability, rapid strength gain, ecofriendly, cheap and elimination of water curing. Applications of geopolymer are as follows: in marine structures, precast concrete products such as railway sleepers, sewer pipes etc.