Strength Characteristics of Open Air Cured Geopolymer Concrete

Abstract

Geopolymer concrete is an alternate material to the conventional concrete. The research on heat cured geopolymers is well documented by multiple researchers. However, there is very little information available on ambient cured geopolymer concrete. This paper illustrates the mechanical properties of ambient cured geopolymer concrete synthesized by activating Class F fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag with alkaline solution. Various mechanical properties like compressive, split tensile, flexural, shear, impact and bond strength of ambient cured geopolymer concrete were experimentally investigated. Stress-strain behaviour was also studied. Sample durability tests of conventional and geopolymer concrete were investigated and compared. It was found that many properties of ambient cured geopolymer concrete were superior when compared to conventional concrete. It was concluded that geopolymer concrete can be used as high performance concrete in place of conventional concrete for structural applications with many advantages.