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Volume 10, Issue 04, April 2019, pp. 2294-2304. Article ID: IJCIET_10_04_239
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=04
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
INVESTIGATION ON STRUCTURAL
BEHAVIOUR OF GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE
INFLUENCED BY MICRO SILICA AND STEEL
FIBRE
A. Ravi
Assistant Professor (Sr. grade), Department of Civil Engineering
Mepco Schlenk Engineering College Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district, Tamilnadu
M. Aishwarya
PG Student, Department of Civil Engineering,
Mepco Schlenk Engineering College Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district, Tamilnadu
ABSTRACT
CO2 is released into the atmosphere in amount equal to the production of Ordinary
Portland Cement (OPC). Geopolymer concrete is an emerging technique in the
construction field where OPC is totally replaced by Fly ash. Fly ash is a waste residue
obtained from thermal power plant. Normally Class F fly ash based Geopolymer
concrete requires elevated temperature curing (above 60◦C), which make them
impossible for cast in situ construction. In this study the strength of geopolymer
concrete is achieved by sunlight curing by addition of Class C fly ash and Micro silica.
Sodium silicate solution (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) with a ratio
(Na2SiO3/ NaOH) of 2.5 is used as an activator for geopolymer concrete. Main
objectives of the study are to investigate the effect of usability or replace ability of micro
silica with steel fibre based geopolymer concrete instead of OPC concrete in structural
applications. To achieve the goals, the optimum percentage of Micro silica, Class C fly
ash and steel fibres are found. Compressive strength and split tensile tests are
performed on specimens to evaluate the mechanical performance of the concrete.
Keywords: Class F fly ash, Micro Silica, Steel Fibre, Class C fly ash
Cite this Article: A. Ravi and M. Aishwarya, Investigation on Structural Behaviour of
Geopolymer Concrete Influenced by Micro Silica and Steel Fibre, International
Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 10(4), 2019, pp. 2294-2304.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=04
1. INTRODUCTION
There are numerous issues related with the generation of Ordinary Portland cement (OPC),
production of cement involves utilization of 5% of natural resources and release of 5– 7% of
worldwide carbon dioxide[1-4]. Geopolymer is the most recent usage of concrete, after
gypsum concrete and conventional Portland concrete (OPC)[5]. The reaction of a strong
aluminosilicate with hydroxide or silicate arrangement creates a manufactured aluminosilicate
material called as 'geopolymer'. Low-calcium fly ash is the most generally utilized material to
create geopolymer concrete. Fly ash is a byproduct coal power plant where burning of coal in
the coal-terminated heaters. Around one billion tons of fly ash remains are created every year
worldwide in coal-fired steam power plants. Analysts revealed that alkali-activated fly slag
concrete can accomplish compressive quality more than 60 MPa after curing at elevated
temperature[6-9]. Geopolymer concrete is termed as a Green Concrete since the usage of OPC
is neglected [11-14].Many research papers on geopolymer concrete mainly highlight the
elevated or high temperature curing, this make the geopolymer concrete not practical as cast in
situ[15]. Addition of fibre influences the workability of the geopolymer concrete. Addition of
large amount of fibre results in balling effects which reduces the workability of the geopolymer
concrete [16]. This research paper forms an idea for proposing geopolymer as a onsite concrete
and to overcome the requirement of elevated temperature for curing. This paper gives an outline
of the most recent elective restoring techniques for elimination of heat cured geopolymer
concrete to ensure commercial viability and for site usage.
After lime and cement geopolymer is considered as the third-generation cement. It basically
consists of repeating unit of sialate and aluminate monomers (–Si–O–Al–O–). Various
aluminosilicate materials such as, kaolinite, feldspar and solid residue from industries such as
fly ash, metallurgical slag, mining waste etc. has been used as the soild raw materials in the
geopolymerization technology. The alkaline activators such as potassium hydroxide (KOH),
sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and potassium silicate (K2SiO3) are used
to activate aluminosilicate materials. The reaction occurring in the geopolymerization process
is described as shown in Equation [3]
2. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANE
Previous studies of the geopolymer concrete is mainly based on the heat cured geopolymer
concrete. Elevated temperature curing makes them restricted to precast construction.
Nowadays various research work has been under taken to study the structural behaviour of
ambient cured geopolymer concrete making them wide application in onsite construction.
Acceleration of geopolymerisation process can be achieved by the addition various
cementitious materials like OPC, GGBFS, Slaked lime which enhances the early stage
strength.[7]. Cracks due to drying and plastic shrinkage is arrested by the addition of fibres in
the concrete.[20]. Curing condition plays major role in the strength and micro structural
development of geopolymer concrete. Low calcium-based fly ash requires elevated
temperature curing in order to achieve designated strength. [10]. Setting time of the geopolymer
concrete also influenced by the addition of additives. In ambient curing setting time of the
geopolymer concrete is reduced comparing to the heat cured geopolymer concrete
3. MATERIALS USED
3.1. Class F Fly Ash
Class F fly ash is used as the base material for the ambient cured geopolymer concrete. Fly ash
with calcium content less than10 % is termed as Class F fly ash Table 2 shows that the calcium
content in class F fly ash is less than 10%. Class F fly ash used in this research work is collected
from Thermal Power Plant, Tuticorin.
Parameter I: Sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide is used as the alkaline activator in this
research work.
Parameter II: Sodium Silicate to Sodium hydroxide mass ratio is fixed as 2.5
Parameter III: Molar concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution is directly
proportional to the strength of the concrete and inversely proportional to the workability of the
concrete [18-19]. Molar concentration varying from 8M to 16 M is majorly used. In this
research work 10 M molarity of sodium hydroxide solution is used.
Parameter IV: Alkaline activator fly ash mass ratio is taken as 0.35.
5. MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS
5.1. SEM Image of micro silica
In order to ensure the size of the cementitious material Scanning Electron Microscopic image
is taken to study the size and shape of micro silica. The SEM image is taken from Nano
technology Research Centre, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College.
30
0.1% steel
25
3
Split tensile strength N/mm2
0.1%
steel
2
0.2 %
steel
1
0.3%
steel
0
3% MS 4% MS 5% MS
+ 4% C + 3% C + 2%C
(a) (b)
Figure 13 (a) Two point loading test on conventional GPC beam & (b) Two point loading test on
optimized GPC beam
deflection(mm)
Deflection (mm)
4 4
2 2
0
0
0 5 10 15
0 5 10
load(tonne)
load kN
(a) (b)
Figure 7.14 (a) Load Vs deflection curve for conventional GPC beam & (b) Load Vs deflection curve
for optimized GPC beam.
Initial
Ultimate Ulitimate Flexural Flexural
Crack
Beam Specimen Load Moment Strength Rigidity
Load
(Tonne) (Knm) N/Mm2 Nmm2
(Tonne)
Conventional
3.5 8.45 26.64 42.59 5.44x1011
Gpc Beam
Optimum Gpc
5 9.85 32.20 51.53 7.24x1011
Beam
7. CONCLUSION
1. Elimination of heat curing can be achieved by the addition of class C fly ash is smaller
proportion. Formation of C-S-H gel generates hydration which is sufficient for the
curing purpose.
2. Mix proportion of 4% micro Silica + 3 % class C fly ash + 0.3% steel fibre shows 28
% of increase in compressive strength.
3. Mix proportion of 4% micro Silica + 3 % class C fly ash + 0.3% steel fibre shows the
higher strength with 20 % of increase in split tensile strength.
4. Addition of steel fibre reduces the crack propagation and helps in increase of the
compressive strength.
5. Ultimate load carrying capacity of GPC beam of proportion 3% C , 4% M and 0.3%
steel fibre increase 16.5% compare to conventional beam.
6. Onsite application of geopolymer concrete opens wide application of geopolymer
Concrete in structural application.
From the above research work it is concluded that ambient curing in geopolymer concrete
leads to a new pavement for the onsite structural application with complete elimination of
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).
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