EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON GEOPOLYMER

CONCRETE BY INCORPORATING BIOMASS ASHES

A Thesis Submitted to the
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Anantapur

For the award of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

in

CIVIL ENGINEERING

by

USHASREE JAGARAGALLU
[Reg. No. 14PH0113]

Under the guidance of

Prof. H. SUDARSANA RAO

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY ANANTAPUR
ANANTHAPURAMU- 515002, A.P., INDIA
MAY - 2023
 CONCLUSIONS AND SCOPE OF FUTURE WORK

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

In this research the mechanical properties of three biomass ash based geopolymer
concretes (SCBAGC, GNSAGC & CDCAGC) were studied. The performance of
these geopolymer concretes with respective durability characteristics was also studied.

CONCLUSIONS

The following conclusions are drawn from the present experimental investigation.

1. The experimental work report states that the optimum Mix proportions out of 54
mix proportions of Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash based Geopolymer Concrete
(SCBAGC) and without partial replacement of biomass ash with fly ash for
obtaining optimum mechanical properties (Compressive Strength, Split Tensile
Strength and Flexural strength) are S9 for 8 molarity of NaOH solution, S18 for
10 molarity of NaOH solution, S27 for 12 molarity of NaOH solution, S36 for 14
molarity of NaOH solution, S45 for 16 molarity of NaOH solution, S54 for 18
molarity of NaOH solution.

2. The compressive strength results of SCBAGC (without partial replacement of

biomass ash with fly ash) the M20 grade geopolymer concrete is obtained for S54
mix design.

3. The M40 grade geopolymer concrete in SCBAGC (with partial replacement of fly
ash with biomass ash) is obtained by for SCBAGC20 mix design in ambient
curing condition and SCBAGC40 mix design in heat curing condition.

4. From the experimental results it is concluded that the optimum Mix proportions out
of 54 mix proportions of Ground Nut Shell Ash based Geopolymer Concrete
(GNSAGC) and without partial replacement of biomass ash with fly ash for
obtaining optimum mechanical properties (Compressive Strength, Split Tensile
Strength and Flexural strength) are G9 for 8 molarity of NaOH solution, G18 for
10 molarity of NaOH solution, G27 for 12 molarity of NaOH solution, G36 for 14
molarity of NaOH solution, G45 for 16 molarity of NaOH solution, G54 for 18
molarity of NaOH solution.
5. Basing on the compressive strength results of GNSAGC (without partial
replacement of biomass ash with fly ash) the M20 grade geopolymer concrete is
obtained for S54 mix design.

6. The M40 grade geopolymer concrete in GNSAGC (with partial replacement of fly
ash with biomass ash) is obtained for GNSAGC20 mix design in ambient curing
condition and GNSAGC40 mix design in heat curing condition.

7. From the results of the experimental work its concluded that the optimum Mix
proportions out of 54 mix proportions of Cattle Dung Cake Ash based
Geopolymer Concrete (CDCAGC) and without partial replacement of biomass ash
with fly ash for obtaining optimum mechanical properties (Compressive Strength,
Split Tensile Strength and Flexural strength) are C9 for 8 molarity of NaOH
solution, C18 for 10 molarity of NaOH solution, C27 for 12 molarity of NaOH
solution, C36 for 14 molarity of NaOH solution, C45 for 16 molarity of NaOH
solution, C54 for 18 molarity of NaOH solution.

8. Basing on the compressive strength results of CDCAGC (without partial

replacement of biomass ash with fly ash) the M20 grade geopolymer concrete is
obtained for S54 mix design.

9. The M40 grade geopolymer concrete in CDCAGC (with partial replacement of fly
ash with biomass ash) is obtained for CDCAGC20 mix design in ambient curing
condition and CDCAGC40 mix design in heat curing condition.

10. As the ratio of alkaline liquid to ash increases the compressive strength, split
tensile strength and flexural strength of all three biomass ash based geopolymer
concrete increases i.e. SCBAGC, GNSAGC, and CDCAGC.

11. The optimum ratio for alkaline liquid to ash for all three biomass ash based
geopolymer concrete i.e. SCBAGC, GNSAGC, and CDCAGC (without partial
replacement of biomass ash with fly ash) is 0.5 for optimum mechanical
properties (Compressive Strength, Split Tensile Strength and Flexural strength).

12. The optimum ratio of Sodium silicate to Sodium hydroxide is 3 for all three
biomass ash based geopolymer concrete i.e. SCBAGC, GNSAGC, and CDCAGC
 (without partial replacement of biomass ash with fly ash) for optimum mechanical
properties (Compressive Strength, Split Tensile Strength and Flexural strength).

13. The maximum values for compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural
strength for all three biomass ash based geopolymer concrete i.e. SCBAGC,
GNSAGC, and CDCAGC (without partial replacement of biomass ash with fly
ash) are obtained with 18 molarity of the NaOH solution.

14. The workability is more with lesser concentration value of NaOH solution for all
three biomass ash based geopolymer concrete i.e. SCBAGC, GNSAGC, and
CDCAGC (without partial replacement of biomass ash with fly ash), as the
molarity of NaOH solution increases the slump cone test value decreases.

15. The compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths for all three biomass ash
based geopolymer concretes i.e. SCBAGC, GNSAGC, and CDCAGC (without
partial replacement of biomass ash with fly ash) are higher in heat cured
conditions than ambient cured specimens.

16. Optimum ratio of alkaline liquid to biomass ash for all three biomass ash based
geopolymer concretes (SCBAGC, GNSAGC & CDCAGC) is 0.3 and 2 with
respective to ratio of Na2SiO3 to NaOH for all three molarities of NaOH (14, 16
and 18).

17. The mechanical properties i.e., compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths of
SCBAGC GNSAGC & CDCAGC (with partial replacement of sugar cane bagasse
ash with fly ash) increase as the percentage of biomass ashes decreases.

18. It can further be concluded that the strength properties of SCBAGC, GNSAGC &
CDCAGC (with partial replacement of sugar cane bagasse ash with fly ash) are
higher for heat cured specimens than for ambient cured specimens.

19. In the durability studies there was 22% to 41% of reduction in compressive
strength from SCBAGC0 to SCBAGC100 when exposed to 5% H2SO4 acid for 28
days (with partial replacement of sugar cane bagasse ash with fly ash).
20. There was 4% to 13% reduction in mass for SCBAGC0 to SCBAGC100
respectively, when immersed in 5% H2SO4 acid for 28 days (with partial
replacement of sugar cane bagasse ash with fly ash).

21. There was reduction in average length of diagonals of the specimens of SCBAGC
soaked in 5% H2SO4 acid for 28 days (with partial replacement of sugar cane
bagasse ash with fly ash).

22. The results show that there is not much change in compressive strength, mass and
diagonals length for SCBAGC (with partial replacement of sugar cane bagasse ash
with fly ash) exposed to 5% HCl acid for 28 days.

23. The results show that optimum mix proportion for M40 grade Ground Nut Shell
Ash based geopolymer concrete is with heat curing.

24. The compressive strength of GNSAGC0 was 25%, more in GNSAGC100 exposed
to heat curing than that of exposed to ambient curing (with partial replacement of
Ground Nut Shell Ash with fly ash).

25. In the durability studies of GNSAGC there was 20.74% to 44% of reduction in
compressive strength from GNSAGC0 to GNSAGC100 when exposed to 5%
H2SO4 acid for 28 days (with partial replacement of Ground Nut Shell Ash with
fly ash).

26. There was 4% to 15.85% reduction in mass for GNSAGC0 to GNSAGC100

respectively, when immersed in 5% H2SO4 acid for 28 days (with partial
replacement of Ground Nut Shell Ash with fly ash).

27. There was reduction in average length of diagonals of the specimens soaked in %
H2SO4 acid for 28 days (with partial replacement of Ground Nut Shell Ash with
fly ash).

28. The above results show that there was not much change in compressive strength,
mass and diagonals length for GNSAGC exposed to 5% HCl acid for 28 days
(with partial replacement of Ground Nut Shell Ashwith fly ash).
29. The results show that optimum mix proportion for 40 grades CDCAGC was
CDCAGC40 with heat curing (with partial replacement of Cattle Dung Cake Ash
with fly ash).

30. The experimental work report states that the compressive strength of CDCAGC
was 26.73%, more in CDCAGC100 exposed to heat curing than that of exposed to
ambient curing (with partial replacement of Cattle Dung Cake Ash with fly ash).

31. In the durability studies of CDCAGC there was 26% to 46% of reduction in
compressive strength from CDCAGC0 to CDCAGC100 when exposed to 5%
H2SO4 acid for 28 days (with partial replacement of Cattle Dung Cake Ash with
fly ash).

32. There was 6% to 18.3% reduction in mass for CDCAGC0 to CDCAGC100

respectively, when immersed in 5% H2SO4 acid for 28 days (with partial
replacement of Cattle Dung Cake Ash with fly ash).

33. There was reduction in average length of diagonals of the specimens soaked in %
H2SO4 acid for 28 days (with partial replacement of Cattle Dung Cake Ash with
fly ash).

34. The above results show that there was not much change in compressive strength,
mass and diagonals length CDCAGC exposed to 5% HCl acid for 28 days (with
partial replacement of Cattle Dung Cake Ash with fly ash).

35. The compressive strength of SCBAGC, GNSAGC and CDCAGC (without partial
replacement of biomass ash with fly ash) at 7 days is 55%-70% of 28 days
compressive strength in ambient curing and at the same time 65% to 80% in heat
curing. In addition, the alkaline liquid (AL) to ash (A) ratio affects the
compressive strength which the increase in AL/A ratio is able to increase the
compressive strength by 10%-30%. This is due to the effect of the Na2SiO3
solution in alkaline during geopolymer process; hence, the presence of Na2SiO3
solution will enhance the polymerization.

36. The increasing of AL/A ratio is comparable to the improvement of workability. It

means that AL contains NaOH and Na2SiO3 solution work together as aqueous
and a viscous at the same time. The additional amount of NaOH causes the
 increase of aqueous state which improves the flow ability of mortar; otherwise,
the amount of Na2SiO3 causes the increase of viscosity and reduces the flow
ability. It means that the increasing of AL/A ratio raises the amount of AL which
definitely raises NaOH and Na2SiO3 solution.

37. It can be noted that the heat curing temperature influenced the early strength of
SCBAGC, GNSAGC & CDCAGC due to the geopolymerization process, which
required heating for accelerating the reaction between alkali activator and biomass
ash. For these three concretes cured at 60 °C, the compressive strength increased
by 50% to 70% at 7 days and as compared to ambient curing. The strengths of
heat-cured specimens at 28 days increased with 60% to 75% as compared to the
same samples cured at room temperature.

38. The recommended mix proportion for the biomass ash based geopolymer concrete
is

S.No. Type of Biomass Molarity Ratio of Ratio of Ratio of Added Total

Ash of NaOH Coarse Alkaline Na2SiO3 water % volume of
solution aggregate liquid to to Aggregate
to Fine Biomass ash NaOH %
aggregate

1 SCBA/GNSA/CDCA 18 1.5 0.5 3 12 75

39. It is concluded that biomass ashes can be effectively used in production of

sustainable geopolymer concrete with good mechanical and durability properties.

40. According to the prevailing rates of the raw material, transportation and labor, the
production cost of M40 grade cement concrete is 7174.84 and that of biomass ash
based geopolymer concrete is 6627.4

SCOPE OF FUTURE WORK

Apart from the present study, few more tests can be conducted in the following areas.
1. The biomass based geopolymer concretes which were studied in this research work
can be tested other structural elements like slabs and beams.
2. There is a scope of going with combinations of two or three biomass ashes to get
optimum mix proportion for optimum strength properties.
3. Furthermore durability tests can be conducted to check with chloride ion
penetration of these geopolymer concretes.
4. In addition to the above works, we can study with different alkaline activators
which will optimum mechanical properties of the biomass ash based geopolymer
concretes.
5. In the present investigation, durability studies such as acidic and sulphate
environment curing have been conducted on biomass ash based geopolymer
concrete. However further durability studies such as carbonation, sorptivity,
chloride penetration, oxygen permeability etc., may be conducted.