Title:
Proposed Mixture Design Method for High-Strength Geopolymer Concrete
Author(s):
Jagad Gaurav, Chetankumar Modhera, and Dhaval Patel
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
121
Issue:
1
Appears on pages(s):
67-78
Keywords:
ambient curing; high-strength geopolymer concrete (HSGPC); microstructural study; mixture design procedure
DOI:
10.14359/51739201
Date:
1/1/2024
Abstract:
This research focuses on developing a mixture design for highstrength geopolymer concrete (HSGPC) complying with the highstrength concrete criteria mentioned in Indian standards. This study focuses on optimizing the content of alkaline activators and binders proportionately. The compressive strength of different proportions of geopolymer mortar was carried out meticulously to determine the optimal proportions of solution-binder (S/B) and sodium silicatesodium hydroxide (SS/SH) ratios. The aforementioned ratios were optimized using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) analysis for further calculation. The mixture proportions for Grades M70, M80, M90, and M100 were determined and verified through experimental validation. To assess the suggested mixture design, a slump test was conducted to quantify the workability, subsequently followed by the evaluation of compressive strength after 24 hours, 7 days, and 28 days. After achieving the desired workability, promising compressive strength was observed as 76, 89, 93, and 104 MPa at 28 days. Finally, the mechanism of strength increment was investigated using various characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD)
and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energydispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The SEM/EDS analysis of the
HSGPC proves the dense microstructures of different gel formations.
The proposed mixture design procedure falls under the target
strength-based method category. It has successfully yielded a strength of 104 MPa for ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS)-based geopolymer concrete incorporating coarse and fine aggregates.