Title:
Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Different Fly Ash Geopolymers
Author(s):
Chamila Gunasekara, Sujeeva Setunge, and David W. Law
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
114
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
743-752
Keywords:
compressive strength; elastic modulus; fly ash; geopolymer concrete; microstructure; tensile strength
DOI:
10.14359/51689454
Date:
5/1/2017
Abstract:
Geopolymer concrete is a sustainable construction material with the potential to act as a replacement for portland-cement (PC) concretes. A detailed investigation of the mechanical properties of four different fly ash geopolymer concretes was carried out up to 1 year of age. Compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strengths, elastic modulus, and Poisson’s ratio of four geopolymer concretes at 1 year ranged between 28 and 88 MPa (4.06 and 12.76 ksi), 3.92 and 6.3 MPa (0.568 and 0.914 ksi), 1.86 and 4.72 MPa (0.27 and 0.684 ksi), 10.3 and 29 GPa (1493.5 and 4205 ksi), and 0.16 and 0.28, respectively. The results show an increase in performance observed between 90 and 365 days for all concretes depending on the fly ash properties. Tarong displayed the highest increase while Gladstone had the least, although Gladstone did display the best performance throughout. The nature of the gel matrix formed, in terms of uniformity and compactness, was observed to determine the mechanical properties. The nature of the interfacial transition zone formed between coarse aggregate and mortar and its density was observed to govern the tensile strength. An increase in porosity and microcracks was seen to negatively affect the compactness of the gel matrix, which in turn affected the elastic modulus.
Related References:
1. McLellan, B. C.; Williams, R. P.; Lay, J.; Van Riessen, A.; and Corder, G. D., “Costs and Carbon Emissions for Geopolymer Pastes in Comparison to Ordinary Portland Cement,” Journal of Cleaner Production, V. 19, No. 9, 2011, pp. 1080-1090. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.02.010
2. Habert, G.; d’Espinose de Lacaillerie, J. B.; and Roussel, N., “An Environmental Evaluation of Geopolymer Based Concrete Production: Reviewing Current Research Trends,” Journal of Cleaner Production, V. 19, No. 11, 2011, pp. 1229-1238. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.03.012
3. Stengel, T.; Reger, J.; and Heinz, D., “LCA of Geopolymer Concrete—What is the Environmental Benefit?” Proceedings of the 24th Biennial Conference of the Concrete Institute of Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2009, pp. 54-62.
4. Hanjitsuwan, S.; Hunpratub, S.; Thongbai, P.; Maensiri, S.; Sata, V.; and Chindaprasirt, P., “Effects of NaOH Concentrations on Physical and Electrical Properties of High Calcium Fly Ash Geopolymer Paste,” Cement and Concrete Composites, V. 45, No. 1, 2014, pp. 9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2013.09.012
5. Chindaprasirt, P.; Rattanasak, U.; and Taebuanhuad, S., “Resistance to Acid and Sulfate Solutions of Microwave-Assisted High Calcium Fly Ash Geopolymer,” Materials and Structures, V. 46, No. 3, 2013, pp. 375-381. doi: 10.1617/s11527-012-9907-1
6. Chindaprasirt, P.; Chareerat, T.; Hatanaka, S.; and Cao, T., “High-Strength Geopolymer Using Fine High-Calcium Fly Ash,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, V. 23, No. 3, 2011, pp. 264-270. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000161
7. Chindaprasirt, P.; Chareerat, T.; Hatanaka, S.; and Cao, T., “High-Strength Geopolymer Using Fine High-Calcium Fly Ash,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, V. 23, No. 3, 2011, pp. 264-270. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000161
8. Nematollahi, B., and Sanjayan, J. G., “Effect of Different Superplasticizers and Activator Combinations on Workability and Strength of Fly Ash Based Geopolymer,” Materials & Design, V. 57, No. 0, 2014, pp. 667-672. doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2014.01.064
9. Law, D. W.; Adam, A. A.; Molyneaux, T. K.; Patnaikuni, I.; and Wardhono, A., “Long Term Durability Properties of Class F Fly Ash Geopolymer Concrete,” Materials and Structures, V. 48, No. 3, 2014, pp. 1-11.
10. Ryu, G. S.; Lee, Y. B.; Koh, K. T.; and Chung, Y. S., “The Mechanical Properties of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete with Alkaline Activators,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 47, No. 1, 2013, pp. 409-418. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.05.069
11. Diaz-Loya, E. I.; Allouche, E. N.; and Vaidya, S., “Mechanical Properties of Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete,” ACI Materials Journal, V. 108, No. 3, May-June 2011, pp. 300-306.
12. Fernandez-Jimenez, A. M.; Palomo, A.; and Lopez-Hombrados, C., “Engineering Properties of Alkali-Activated Fly Ash Concrete,” ACI Materials Journal, V. 103, No. 2, Mar.-Apr. 2006, pp. 106-112.
13. Morrison, A. G. P., and Nelson, P., “Fly Ash Availability—Potential Consequences of Transformation of Australia’s Energy Generation Portfolio to 2050,” Proceedings of World of Coal Ash, Apr. 2005, pp. 56-63.
14. Bondar, D.; Lynsdale, C. J.; Milestone, N. B.; Hassani, N.; and Ramezanianpour, A. A., “Engineering Properties of Alkali-Activated Natural Pozzolan Concrete,” ACI Materials Journal, V. 108, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2011, pp. 64-72.
15. Sathonsaowaphak, A.; Chindaprasirt, P.; and Pimraksa, K., “Workability and Strength of Lignite Bottom Ash Geopolymer Mortar,” Journal of Hazardous Materials, V. 168, No. 1, 2009, pp. 44-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.01.120
16. Chindaprasirt, P.; Chareerat, T.; and Sirivivatnanon, V., “Workability and Strength of Coarse High Calcium Fly Ash Geopolymer,” Cement and Concrete Composites, V. 29, No. 3, 2007, pp. 224-229. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2006.11.002
17. Wang, H.; Li, H.; and Yan, F., “Synthesis and Mechanical Properties of Metakaolinite-Based Geopolymer,” Colloids and Surfaces. A, Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, V. 268, No. 1-3, 2005, pp. 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2005.01.016
18. Hardjito, D., and Rangan, B. V., “Development and Properties of Low-Calcium Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete,” Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia, 2005, pp. 1-103.
19. AS 3600, “Concrete Structures,” Standards Australia, 2009, pp. 1-208.
20. Neupane, K.; Baweja, D.; Shrestha, R.; Chalmers, D.; and Sleep, P., “Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Concrete: Applicability of Relationships Defined by AS 3600,” Concrete in Australia, V. 40, No. 1, 2014, pp. 50-56.
21. AS 3582.1, “Supplementary Cementitious Materials for Use with Portland and Blended Cement, Part 1: Fly Ash,” Standards Australia, 1998, pp. 1-16.
22. AS 1141.5, “Methods for Sampling and Testing Aggregates, Method 5: Particle Density and Water Absorption of Fine Aggregate,” Standards Australia, 2000, pp. 1-9.
23. Gunasekara, C.; Law, D. W.; Setunge, S.; and Sanjayan, J. G., “Zeta Potential, Gel Formation and Compressive Strength of Low Calcium Fly Ash Geopolymers,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 95, No. 1, 2015, pp. 592-599. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.07.175
24. Neville, A. M., Properties of Concrete, Pearson Education Ltd., 1996, 844 pp.
25. AS 1012.9, “Method of Testing Concrete, Method 9: Determination of the Compressive Strength of Concrete Specimens,” Standards Australia, 1999, pp. 1-13.
26. AS 1012.11, “Methods of Testing Concrete—Determination of the Modulus of Rupture,” Standards Australia, 2000, pp. 1-5.
27. AS 1012.10, “Methods of Testing Concrete—Determination of Indirect Tensile Strength of Concrete Cylinders (Brasil or Splitting Test),” Standards Australia, 2000, pp. 1-6.
28. AS 1012.17, “Methods of Testing Concrete—Determination of the Static Chord Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson’s Ratio of Concrete Specimens,” Standards Australia, 1997, pp. 1-14.
29. AS 1012.3.1, “Determination of Properties Related to the Consistency of Concrete—Slump Test,” Standards Australia, 2014, pp. 1-8.
30. AS 1012.12.2, “Methods of Testing Concrete—Determination of Mass per Unit Volume of Hardened Concrete—Water Displacement Method,” Standards Australia, 1998, pp. 1-3.
31. Wardhono, A., “The Durability of Fly Ash Geopolymer and Alkali-Activated Slag Concretes,” PhD thesis, RMIT University, School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Melbourne, Australia, pp. 1-326.
32. Bakharev, T., “Geopolymeric Materials Prepared Using Class F Fly Ash and Elevated Temperature Curing,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 35, No. 6, 2005, pp. 1224-1232. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.06.031
33. Palomo, A.; Grutzeck, M. W.; and Blanco, M. T., “Alkali-Activated Fly Ashes: A Cement for the Future,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 29, No. 8, 1999, pp. 1323-1329. doi: 10.1016/S0008-8846(98)00243-9
34. Warner, R. F.; Rangan, B. V.; Hall, A. S.; and Faulkes, K. A., Reinforced Concrete, Addison Wesley Longman, 1998, pp. 1-495.
35. Diaz, E. I.; Allouche, E. N.; and Eklund, S., “Factors Affecting the Suitability of Fly Ash as Source Material for Geopolymers,” Fuel, V. 89, No. 5, 2010, pp. 992-996. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2009.09.012
36. Steveson, M., and Sagoe-Crentsil, K., “Relationships between Composition, Structure and Strength of Inorganic Polymers,” Journal of Materials Science, V. 40, No. 16, 2005, pp. 4247-4259. doi: 10.1007/s10853-005-2794-x
37. Demie, S.; Nuruddin, M. F.; and Shafiq, N., “Effects of Micro-structure Characteristics of Interfacial Transition Zone on the Compressive Strength of Self-Compacting Geopolymer Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 41, No. 1, 2013, pp. 91-98. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.11.067
38. Scrivener, K. L.; Crumbie, A. K.; and Laugesen, P., “The Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) between Cement Paste and Aggregate in Concrete,” Interface Science, V. 12, No. 4, 2004, pp. 411-421. doi: 10.1023/B:INTS.0000042339.92990.4c
39. Sarker, P. K.; Haque, R.; and Ramgolam, K. V., “Fracture Behaviour of Heat Cured Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete,” Materials & Design, V. 44, Feb., 2013, pp. 580-586. doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2012.08.005
40. Liu, M. Y. J.; Alengaram, U. J.; Jumaat, M. Z.; and Mo, K. H., “Evaluation of Thermal Conductivity, Mechanical and Transport Properties of Lightweight Aggregate Foamed Geopolymer Concrete,” Energy and Buildings, V. 72, No. 2014, pp. 238-245.
41. Puertas, F.; Palacios, M.; Manzano, H.; Dolado, J.; Rico, A.; and Rodríguez, J., “A Model for the C-A-S-H Gel Formed in Alkali-Activated Slag Cements,” Journal of the European Ceramic Society, V. 31, No. 12, 2011, pp. 2043-2056. doi: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2011.04.036
42. Gunasekara, C.; Law, D. W.; and Setunge, S., “Long Term Permeation Properties of Different Fly Ash Geopolymer Concretes,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 124, Oct. 2016, pp. 352-362. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.07.121
43. Williams, R. P.; Hart, R. D.; and Van Riessen, A., “Quantification of the Extent of Reaction of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymers Using X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy,” Journal of the American Ceramic Society, V. 94, No. 8, 2011, pp. 2663-2670. doi: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2011.04410.x
44. Kirschner, A., and Harmuth, H., “Investigation of Geopolymer Binders with Respect to Their Application for Building Materials,” Ceramics-Silikáty, V. 48, No. 11, 2004, pp. 7-20.
45. Duxson, P.; Mallicoat, S.; Lukey, G.; Kriven, W.; and Van Deventer, J., “The Effect of Alkali and Si/Al Ratio on the Development of Mechanical Properties of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymers,” Colloids and Surfaces. A, Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, V. 292, No. 1, 2007, pp. 8-20. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2006.05.044