Title: Design of Ambient-Cured Alkali-Activated Reactive Powder Concrete Using Taguchi Method

Author(s): Nabeel A. Farhan, M. Neaz Sheikh, and Muhammad N. S. Hadi

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume: 120

Issue: 2

Appears on pages(s): 3-12

Keywords: alkaline activator; compressive strength; Taguchi method; ultra-high-strength concrete

DOI: 10.14359/51738489

Date: 3/1/2023

Abstract:
In this paper, the Taguchi method was used to identify the optimum mixture proportions of alkali-activated reactive powder concrete (AARPC) by considering the most influential parameters. Five main parameters, including binder content, alkaline activator-binder ratio (Al-binder), binder-fine aggregate ratio, sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio (Na2SiO3-NaOH), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration, were considered in the mixture design. A total of 18 trial batches were designed according to the L18 array obtained from the Taguchi method. The results showed that the highest average compressive strength was 110.9 MPa (16.08 ksi) and the lowest average compressive strength was 50.6 MPa (7.34 ksi). The test results of the 18 trial batches were then evaluated by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method to determine the optimum level of each parameter. It was found that specimens with a binder content of 700 kg/m3 (0.025 lb/in.3), Al-binder ratio of 0.3, binder-fine aggregate ratio of 0.8, Na2SiO3-NaOH ratio of 2, and NaOH concentration of 14 M produced the highest 28-day compressive strength (116.77 MPa [16.94 ksi]) at the ambient curing conditions.