Behaviour of Low Calcium Flyash Based Geopolymer Concrete Structural Elements With Ggbs & Steel Fibre

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)
Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 782-789 February 2014
www.ijsret.org
ISSN 2278 0882
BEHAVIOUR OF LOW CALCIUM FLYASH BASED

GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE STRUCTURAL
ELEMENTS WITH GGBS & STEEL FIBRE
A. MARIA RAJESH1, Dr.C. SELVAMONY2, Dr.T.R. SETHURAMAN3,M.SHAJU PRAGASH4
1
Research Scholar,Anna University-Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Sun College of Engineering & Technology Tamilnadu,
3
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Sivaji Engineering College, Tamilnadu,
4 Assistant Professor, Ponjesly Engineering College, Nagercoil,Tamilnadu
Abstract: Concrete is one of the fundamental materials

in civil engineering especially structural industries. The
purpose of this project is to experimentally investigate
the effect of geopolymer concrete by replacing cement.
One of the most important ingredients in the
conventional concrete is the Portland cement. The
production of cement in the factory emits enormous
amount of carbon- dioxide which pollutes the
environment.Therefore, low calcium fly ash based
geopolymer concrete is provided. Because, this concrete
uses no Portland cement, instead geopolymers cement is
used which isobtained from the reaction of low calcium
fly ash with the alkaline solution (i.e.) sodium hydroxide
and sodium silicate. The geopolymer cement does not
pollute the environment and so it is eco-friendly.GGBS
is obtained by a by-product of iron and steel in blast
furnace to produce a glassy, granular product that is then
dried and ground into a fine powder. It Increases the
long term strength, durability and resistance to attack in
peaty/acidic environments.Fiber reinforced concrete
(FRC) may be defined as a composite materials made
with Portland cement, aggregate, and incorporating
discrete discontinuous fibers . Steel fibers increases the
durability of geopolymer concrete.To enhance the curing
ground granulated blast furnace slag is added. It is
proposed to determine and compare the differences in
properties of geopolymerconcrete with GGBS and steel
fiber. The investigation are to be carried out using
several tests which include workability test, impact value
test , sieve analysis, specific gravity test, compression
test, split tensional strength and flexural strength.
Fly ash based Geopolymer concrete is a new material

that does not need the presence of Portland cement as a
binder. The role of Portland cement is replaced by low
calcium flyash. Geopolymer concrete can be
manufactured by using low- calcium flyash ,alkaline
liquid, coarse aggregate and fine aggregate.
1.1 FLY ASH
Fly ash is the waste obtained as a residue from
burning of coal in furnaces and locomotives. It is
obtained in the form of powder. It is a good pozzalona
and can be used for partial replacement. The colour of
fly ash is either grey or blackish grey. Fly ash particles
are spherical, having small surface area.
The size of fly ash generally varies between silt sand and
silty clay. Ash is characterized by low specific gravity,
uniform gradation and lack of plasticity. The specific
gravity of ash particles depends on chemical
composition and generally varies from 2 to 2.6 with an
average value of about 2.2. The pH of fly ash contacted
with water range from 8 to 12.
KeywordsGPC, Low calcium flyash, GGBS, steel

fibres, Alkaline liquid, compressive strength, split tensile
strength and flexural Strength
Figure.1.1 Fly Ash
1. INTRODUCTION
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Coal burning power stations on global basis generate

yearly millions of waste including fly ash, bottom
ash,and boiler slag and flue gas desulphurization sludge.
At present only a small proportion of the coal ash
produced is used commercially the rest is disposed of in
ponds and landfills with environmental problem and
added cost to the utility industry. In addition to these
uses, fly ash can be used for treatment of waste water
and for conditioning, stabilizing, solidifying waste
sludge.
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Since the aggregates are formed due to natural

disintegration of rocks or by the artificial crushing of
rock or gravel, they derive many of their properties from
the parent rocks. These properties are chemical and
mineral composition, specific gravity, hardness,
strength, physical and chemical stability, pore structure
and colour. Some other properties not possessed by the
parent rocks are particle shape and size, surface texture,
absorption, etc. All these properties may have a
considerable effect on the quality of concrete in fresh
and hardened states.
1.2 FINE AGGREGATE

1.4ALKALINE LIQUIDS:
In geopolymerization alkaline solution play an important
role. The most common alkaline solution used in
geopolymerization is a combination of sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH) and
sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) or potassium silicate
(K2SiO3).In this project a combination of sodium silicate
and sodium hydroxide is to be chosen as the alkaline
liquid.
Sodium silicate solution (SiO2-29.4%, Na2O-14.73% and
H2O -55.9% by mass and sodium hydroxide solution of
12M concentration (480 gm in 1 kg of solution) are to be
prepared.
Figure.1.2 Fine Aggregate

Sand is the fine aggregate. Fine aggregates are
the aggregates whose size is less than 4.75mm. In this
project, clean and dry river sand available locally will be
used. Sand is generally considered to have a lower size
limit of about 0.07mm. Material between 0.06 and
0.002mm is classified as silt, and still smaller particles
are called clay.
1.3COARSE AGGREGATE
The aggregates most of which are retained on
the 4.75mm IS sieve are termed as coarse aggregates. In
this project coarse aggregates of maximum 20mm are to
be used.
1.5 Ground granulated blast furnace slag

GGBS is obtained by quenching molten iron slag (a byproduct of iron and steel-blast furnace in water or steam,
to produce a glassy, granular product that is then dried
and ground into a fine powder.GGBS is used to make
durable concrete structures in combination with ordinary
Portland cement and/or other pozzolanic materials.
GGBS has been widely used in Europe, and increasingly
in the United States and in Asia (particularly in Japan
and Singapore) for its superiority in concrete durability,
extending the lifespan of buildings from fifty years to a
hundred years.
Figure.1.4 GGBS
Figure1.3 Coarse Aggregate
Concrete made with GGBS cement sets more slowly

than concrete made with ordinary Portland cement,
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depending on the amount of GGBS in the cementation

material, but also continues to gain strength over a
longer period in production conditions.
This results in lower heat of hydration and lower
temperature rises, and makes avoiding cold joints easier,
but may also affect construction schedules where quick
setting is required. Use of GGBS significantly reduces
the risk of damages caused by alkalisilica reaction
(ASR), provides higher resistance to chloride ingress
reducing the risk of reinforcement corrosion and
provides higher resistance to attacks by sulphate and
other chemicals.
1.6 STEEL FIBER
Steelfibres are used to increase the tensile strength of the
concrete.It also increases the durability. Corrugated
steelfibre are used in our project
Figure.1.6 Superplasticizer
1.8 HOT CURING
Hot curing is a process for hardening concrete, cement,
and mortar that involves exposure to warm air. Materials
subjected to this hardening technique tend to cure more
uniformly and also much more quickly than those
hardened via other processes. There are some
disadvantages to this process that must be considered
before deciding to use it for curing, and there may be
certain applications where steam curing is not
appropriate.
Figure.1.5 Steel Fibers

1.7 SUPERPLASTICIZER
Superplasticizers, also known as high range water
reducers, are chemicals used as admixtures where welldispersed particle suspension are required. These
polymers are used as dispersants to avoid particle
aggregation, and to improve the flow characteristics
(rheology) of suspensions such as in concrete
applications. Their addition to concrete or mortar allows
the reduction of the water to cement ratio, not affecting
the workability of the mixture, and enables the
production of self-consolidating concrete and high
performance concrete. This effect drastically improves
the performance of the hardening fresh paste. Indeed the
strength of concrete increase whenever the amount of
water used for the mix decreases.
Figure.1.7 Hot curing chamber

In hot curing, objects to be cured are placed inside a
chamber or room. Using a control panel, an operator can
set the temperature and humidity level. Variations in
pressure may also be possible, depending on the device.
The hot curing requires a fraction of the time involved
with traditional curing and quickly strengthens the
products so they can be used immediately
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Table 3. Properties of Fine Aggregate

Sl.No. Property
Value
1
Specific
2.47
Gravity
2
Fineness
4.35
modulus
3
Water
6.5%
Absorption
4
Surface
smooth
texture
5
Shape
Diamond
2. MATERIALS USED
2.1 FLY ASH
Fly ash is the waste obtained as a residue from burning
of coal in furnaces and locomotives. It is obtained in the
form of powder. It is a good pozzalona The colour of fly
ash is either grey or blackish grey.
Table 1. Properties of Fly ash
Sl.No. Property
Value
1
Specific
2.44
Gravity
2
Fineness
227.8 g/m2
3
Fineness
5
modulus
4
Density
1029.7
Kg/m3
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2.5 COARSE AGGREGATE

The aggregates most of which are retained on the
4.75mm IS sieve are termed as coarse aggregates.
20mm size of coarse aggregate is used.
Table 4. Properties of Coarse Aggregate
Sl.No. Property
Value
1
Specific
2.84
Gravity
2
Fineness
7.2
modulus
3
Water
8.5%
Absorption
4
Particle
Angular
Shape
5
Impact value 9.1%
6
Crushing
17.5
Value
2.2 Ground granulated blast-furnace SLAG :(

GGBS)
GGBS is obtained by a by-product of iron and steel in
blast furnace to produce a glassy, granular product that is
then dried and ground into a fine powder.
Table 2. Properties of GGBS
Sl.No. Property
Value
1
Specific
2.58
Gravity
2
Fineness
202.7 g/m2
3
Fineness
7
modulus
4
Density
2067.06
Kg/m3
2.3 ALKALINE LIQUIDS:
In geopolymerization alkaline solution play an important
role. The most common alkaline solution used in
geopolymerization is a combination of sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH) and
sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) or potassium silicate
(K2SiO3).In this project a combination of sodium silicate
and sodium hydroxide is to be chosen as the alkaline
liquid.Sodium silicate solution and sodium hydroxide
solution of 10M concentration (400gm in 1L of solution)
are to be prepared,(1M=40gm)
2.4 FINE AGGREGATE
Fine aggregate used in this research is river sand. Fine
aggregates are the aggregates whose size is less than
4.75mm. Sand is generally considered to have a lower
size limit of about 0.07mm, also free from clay, minerals
and salt.
2.6 STEEL FIBRES:

In this study corrugated steel fibre with the aspect ratio
50 is chosen. Corrugated steel fibres offer cost efficient
concrete reinforcement. The fibres are made from low
carbon, cold drawn steel wire. They are evenly
distributed in concrete mixtures to improve the impact
resistance, fatigue endurance and shear strength of
concrete.
3. EXPERIMENTAL WORK
The cubes are to be tested to find the compressive
strength, the cylinders are to be tested to find split tensile
strength and prism are to be tested to find flexural
strengthof specimen after 1,7,21 and 28days. In each
trial, the strength of concrete is noted. Finally the results
are to be tabulated and graphically plotted.
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Figure.4.1 NaOH
Figure.4.8 slump Test
TRIAL MIX DESIGN METHOD TRIAL MIX
Figure.4.2 Na2SiO3
Unit weight of concrete

=2400kg/m3
Mass of combined concrete
=75%
Mass of concrete
=0.75x2400
=1800 kg/m3
20mm coarse aggregate
=70%
=0.7x1800=1260kg/m3
4.75mm fine sand 30 %
=0.3x1800
=540 kg/m3
Mass of low calcium fly ash &alkaline liquid
=2400-1800
=600kg/m3
Take, liquid to fly ash ratio
=0.4
Mass of fly ash
=600/(1+0.4)
=428.6kg/m3
Mass of alkaline liquid
=600-428.6
=171.4
3
kg/m
Take sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio = 2.5
Mass of sodium hydroxide solution=171.4/ (1+2.5)
=48.97kg/m3
Mass of sodium silicate Solution
=171.4- 48.97
=122.43kg/m3
By trial mix method, with varying proportion of

Alkaline solution and flyash the following weight of
ingredients were obtained
Figure.4.3 Preparation of Alkaline solution

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Ingre
dient
s
Table5:Mixingproportion
Mix
Mix
Mix
2
1
3
(40%
Unit (30% of
(50% of
of
GGBS)
GGBS)
GGBS)
Coar
se
Aggr
egate
Kg/
m3
Fine
Aggr
egate
Kg/
m3
Fly
ash
Kg/
m3
GGB
S
50%
Kg/
m3
Sodi
um
Silica
te/So
dium
Hydr
oxide
1260
540
1260
540
1260
540
Mix
4
(60%
of
GGBS)
1260
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um
Silica
te
Sodi
um
Hydr
oxide
Steel
Fibre
(Add
ing
1%)
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Kg/
m3
48.97
48.97
48.97
48.97
Kg/
m3
4.28
4.28
4.28
4.28
540
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
300.02
257.16
214.3
171.44
128.58
171.44
214.3
257.16
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
The results of this work is obtained mainly

through conducting varies laboratory tests and analysis.
The results obtained are as follows
4.1 STRENGTH OF CONCRETE
From the experimental results it was found that the
Compressive strength of mix.1(30% GGBS)was found
to be 52.5Mpa for 28 days after hot curing. The
Compressive strength of mix.2 ((40% GGBS) was
found to be 58.5Mpa for 28 days after hot curing. The
Compressive strength of mix.3 (50% GGBS) was found
to be 55.5Mpa for 28 days after hot curing. The
Compressive strength of mix.4 (60% GGBS) was found
to be 51.2Mpa for 28 days after hot curing. The optimum
strength was obtained in mix.2 The results are tabulated
as under
Table6:Compressive strength & Time
Alkal
ineso
lutio
n/FA
0.4
Mola
rity
of
Nao
H
Sodi
12M
0.4
12M
0.4
12M
Day
s
0.4
12M
Compressive strength (Mpa)

Mix:1
Mix:2
Mix:3
Mix: 4
33.2
37.2
35.1
32.2
38.7
42.1
39.3
37.5
14
46.0
48.8
46.50
42.5
52.5
58.5
55.5
51.2
28
Kg/
m3
122.43
122.43
122.43
122.43
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Chart1: Compressive Strength in N/mm2
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Chart2: Split Tensile Strength in N/mm2
60
12
50
10
40
Mix:1
30
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Mix:1
20
Mix:2
Mix:2
10
Mix:3
Mix:3
Mix:4
1 day
7 days 14 days 28 days
Mix:4
1 day
7 days 14 days 28 days
From the experimental results it was found that the Split

tensile strength of mix.1(30% GGBS)was found to be
10.2Mpa for 28 days after hot curing. The Split tensile
strength of mix.2 ((40% GGBS) was found to be
strength of mix.3 (50% GGBS) was found to be
8.50Mpa for 28 days after hot curing. The optimum
as under Table6: Split tensile strength & TimeChart1:
Split tensile Strength in N/mm2
From the experimental results it was found that the

Flexural strength of mix.1(30% GGBS)was found to be
12.5Mpa for 28 days after hot curing. The Flexural
strength of mix.2 ((40% GGBS) was found to be
10.5Mpa for 28 days after hot curing. The optimum
as under Table6: Flexural strength & TimeChart1:
Flexural Strength in N/mm2
Table7:Split Tensile Strength & Time
Table8:Flexural Strength & Time
Day
s
Split Tensile strength (Mpa)
Day
s
Mix:1
Mix:2
Mix:3
Mix: 4
6.8
7.2
6.7
6.3
7.0
7.8
6.9
14
8.1
9.6
10.2
11.5
Flexural strength (Mpa)

Mix:1
Mix:2
Mix:3
Mix: 4
8.1
8.8
8.2
7.5
6.5
8.3
9.8
8.5
7.8
8.7
7.8
14
10.2
11.2
10.1
8.6
10.8
8.5
13.5
12.5
10.5
28
28
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12.5

Chart3: Flexural Strength in N/mm2

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Mix:1
Mix:2
Mix:3
Mix:4
1 day
7 days
14 days
28 days
5. CONCLUSION
The Optimum compressive strength of GPC specimens
(40% of GGBS replacement by flyash) was found to be
58.50Mpa for 28 days after hot curing compare with
30%, 40%, 50%, 60% of GGBS. The Optimum Split
tensile strength of GPC specimens (40% of GGBS
replacement by flyash) was found to be 11.50Mpa for 28
days after hot curing compare with 30%, 40%, 50%,
60% of GGBS. The Optimum Flexural strength of GPC
specimens (40% of GGBS replacement by flyash) was
found to be 13.50Mpa for 28 days after hot curing
compare with 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% of GGBS.
Geopolymer concrete is more environmental friendly
and has the potential to replace ordinary Portland cement
concrete in many applications such as precast units. It is
proposed to study the behaviour of Steel fibre and
GGBS in Geopolymer Concrete. It is suggested that to
cast and test the Structural elements with the Optimum
mix propotional of above high performance GPC where
made, this research work should be satisfied.
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4. Monfia Olivia, Hamid Nikrz, prabirSarter (2008), Fly

ash based geopolymer concrete, International conference
ACF/VCA 2008.
5. M.Olivia, P.Sarker, Nikraz.H (2010), Water
penetrability of low calcium fly ash geopolymer
concrete, ICCB, A (46), PP517-530.
6. Ruixia .H.E, (2010) A study on carbonation for low
calcium fly ash concrete under different temperature and
relative humidity, International journal of civil
engineering, Volume 3, pp 1871-1877.
7. Sathia.R, Ganesh.K, Manusanthanam (2008) ,
Durability study of low calcium fly ash geopolymer
concrete, The 3rd ACF International Conference pp
1153-1159.
8. UbollukRattanasak, Priya, Chindaprasit (2009),
Influence of NaoH solution on the synthesis of fly ash
geopolymer, Elsevier, Volume 22, pp 1073-1078.
9. Van Jaarsveld .J G.S, Lukey.G.C, Vanf Deventer
J.S.K (2002), the characterisation of source material in
fly ash based concrete, Elsevier, Volume 57, pp 12721280.
10. Vijay Rangan.B, DodySumajouw, SteenieHallah,
DjwantoroHardjito (2008), Reinforced low calcium fly
ash based on GPC beams and columns, ACI Structural
Volume 81, pp 32-38.
REFERENCE
1. Allouche.E.N, Diaz.E.I, Klund S.E (2008), Factors
affecting the suitability of fly ash as source material
for geopolymers, Elsevier, Volume 89, pp 992-996.
2. Dattatreva .J.K , Raja mane N.P, Sabetha .D, Ambily
P.S (2011), Flexural behaviour of reinforced geopolymer
concrete beams, International journal of civil and
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3. Lloyd .N.A, Rangan .B.V (2008), Development and
opportunities of geopolymer concrete, our world in
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Behaviour of Low Calcium Flyash Based Geopolymer Concrete Structural Elements With Ggbs & Steel Fibre

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Behaviour of Low Calcium Flyash Based Geopolymer Concrete Structural Elements With Ggbs & Steel Fibre

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 782-789 February 2014

ISSN 2278 0882