Geopolymer Concrete 2020-2021

“FLY ASH BASED LIGHT WEIGHT GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE”

ABSTRACT:
Manufacturing of Portland cement process that releases large amount of Carbon dioxide into
atmosphere. To reduce this pollution another cementitious material like Geopolymer can be used. OPC can
be replaced Fly ash based Geopolymer concrete. This research paper reviews experimental investigations on
ordinary Portland cement cubes and fly ash based geopolymer concrete cubes that are Strength of
Geopolymer concrete with different water/geopolymer ratio, Comparision of Compressive strength between
OPC and Geopolymer concrete with respect to curing temperature as well as Compressive strength of fly ash
based geopolymer concrete cubes indifferent curing time.

INTRODUCTION;
The name geopolymer was formed by a French Professor Davidovits in 1978 to represent a broad
range of materials characterized by networks of inorganic molecules (Geopolymer Institute 2010)1, 2 &3.

The geopolymer depend on thermally activated natural materials like Meta kaolinite or industrial
byproducts like fly ash or slag to provide a source of silicon (Si) and aluminum (Al). These Silicon and
Aluminum is dissolved in an alkaline activating solution and subsequently polymerizes into molecular
chains and become the binder.

Professor B. Vijaya Rang an (2008), Curtin University, Australia, stated that, “the polymerization process
involves a substantially fast chemical reaction under alkaline conditions on silicon-aluminum minerals
that results in a three-dimensional polymeric chain and ring structure

The ultimate structure of the geopolymer depends largely on the ratio of Si to Al (Si:Al), with the
materials most often considered for use in transportation infrastructure typically having an Si:Al between
2 and 3.5.
The reaction of Fly Ash with an aqueous solution containing Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium Silicate in their
mass ratio, results in a material with three-dimensional polymeric chain and ring structure consisting of Si-
O-Al-O bonds7.

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LITERATURE REVIEW:
1. STRENGTH PARAMETERS OF FLYASH BASED GEOPOLYMER
CONCRETE WITH GGBS
(-By P. Vignesh and Vivek)
P. Vignesh Department of Structural, Paavai Engineering College ,Tamilnadu, India
Vivek, Assistant Professor, Department of civil Engineering, Paavai Engineering College,
Tamilnadu, India

ABSTRACT:
Concrete is the most abundant manmade material in the world. One of the main ingredients in a
normal concrete mixture is Portland cement. However, the production of cement is responsible for
approximately 5% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. In order to create a more sustainable world,
engineers and scientists must develop and put into use a green building material. Geopolymer concrete is
also much more durable that ordinary concrete due to its resistance to corrosion. It is also much stronger
than ordinary concrete. Geopolymer concrete is a revolutionary sustainable building material that will pave
the way for green building. In this paper an attempt is made to study strength properties of geopolymer
concrete using low calcium fly ash replacing with slag in 5 different percentages. Sodium silicate (103
kg/m3) and sodium hydroxide of 8 molarity (41kg/m3) solutions were used as alkaline solution in all 5
different mixes. The investigations are to be carried for the Compressive strength, Split tensile strength,
Flexural strength test on the concrete specimens. Hopefully one day in the near future geopolymer concrete
will replace ordinary Portland cement as the most abundant man-made material on earth.

INTERFERENCE:
Based on the experimental investigation the following conclusions are listed below:
The optimum replacement level of fly ash by GGBS in GPC will be carried out. Water absorption property
is lesser than the nominal concrete. Achieving strength in a short time i.e., 70% of the compressive strength
in first 4 hours of setting. Determines the different strength properties of geo-polymer concrete with
percentage replacement of GGBS

2.Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete

(-By Aswani E, Lathi Karthi)
International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research

ABSTRACT:
As the infrastructure development growing worldwide, the demand for Ordinary Portland Cement
(OPC) increases exponentially. Studies revealed that the production of one-ton cement releases around one
ton of CO2 to the atmosphere due to the calcinations of lime stone and combustion of fossil fuel. The
production of cement is highly energy intensive and it consumes a substantial amount of natural resources.
Davidovits (1978) proposed that binders can be produced by polymeric reaction of alkaline liquid with
alumina-silicate materials such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, rice husk ash etc. Geopolymer also has the

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ability to form a strong chemical bond with rock-based aggregates. Fiber reinforced geopolymer concrete is
relatively a new composite material in which fibers are introduced in the matrix as micro reinforcement to
improve the strength properties. This paper presents a review on various research works done in the area of
geopolymer concrete and the effect of fiber on their mechanical properties.

INTERFERENCE:
In this paper, review of various investigation on geopolymer concrete and fibre reinforced geopolymer
concrete is presented. A detailed review revealed.
 The mix proportion of geopolymer concrete depends upon finesse of Fly ash, grading of fine
aggregate, concentration of the alkaline liquid, ratio between the alkaline liquids, ratio between the
fly ash and the alkaline liquid
 The tensile strength parameters improved by the incorporation of polypropylene and glass fibre
 Compressive strength, split tensile strength flexural strength was found to be more for addition of
0.03% glass fibre by volume of concrete.
 Some technical studies showed a result of increasing compressive strength [7] by incorporation of
polypropylene fibre while some other showed a decrease incompressive strength due to the
hydropobic characteristics of polypropylene fibre[14].
A study on effect of polypropylene fibre on compressive strength is in progress by the authors along with
experimental investigation on the strength parameter of low calcium fly ash-based geo polymer concrete
with the addition of a combination of polypropylene fibre and glass fibre.

3.Production of lightweight Geopolymer concrete using artificial local lightweight

aggregate.
(-By Waleed Abbas, Wasan Khalil, and Ibtesam Nasser)
Building and Construction Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq
ABSTRACT:
Due to the rapid depletion of natural resources, the use of waste materials and by-products from
different industries of building construction has been gaining increased attention. Geopolymer concrete
based on Pozzolana is a new material that does not need the presence of Portland cement as a binder. The
main focus of this research is to produce lightweight geopolymer concrete (LWGPC) using artificial coarse
lightweight aggregate which produced from locally available bentonite clays. In this investigation, the
binder is low calcium fly ash (FA) and the alkali activator is sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate in
different molarities.
The experimental tests including workability, fresh density, also, the compressive strength, splitting tensile
strength, flexural strength, water absorption and ultrasonic pulse velocity at the age of 7, 28 and 56 days
were studied. The oven dry density and thermal conductivity at 28 days age are investigated. The results
show that it is possible to produce high strength lightweight geopolymer concrete successfully used as
insulated structural lightweight concrete. The 28-day compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural

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strength, dry density, and thermal conductivity of the produced LWGPC are 35.8 MPa, 2.6MPa, 5.5 MPa,
1835kg/m3, and 0.9567 W/ (m. K), respectively.

INTERFERENCE:
The main findings of this research are as follows:
 LWGPC can be produced using fly ash activated by alkali activator (sodium hydroxide: sodium
silicate in a weight proportion of 1: 2.5) and locally artificial lightweight coarse aggregate.

 The selected LWGPC mix, was containing fly ash of 500kg/m3 with alkali activator molarity of 16
and cured at temperature of 90˚C.

 The compressive strength of LWGPC increases with age. Its value is 32.7, 35.8, and 36.8 MPa at 7,
28, and 56 days, respectively. Whereas the percentage increases in splitting tensile strength is 16.7
and 26% at age 28 and 56 days, respectively relative to that at 7 days age. Also, the flexure strength
increases with age. The percentage increase is 19.5 and 22% at 28 and 56 days, respectively relative
to that at 7 days age.

 The produced high strength LWGPC has oven dry density and thermal conductivity of 1835 kg/m³
and 0.9567 W/ (m. K) at 28 days age, respectively.

 The produced high strength LWGPC is classified as insulated structural lightweight concrete, in
addition it is an environmentally eco-friendly concrete.

4. Strength and Durability Studies on Geopolymer Recycled Aggregate Concrete

(-By SaravanakumarPalaniraj)
Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology

ABSTRACT:
This paper aims to study the engineering and durability properties of fly ash-based geopolymer
recycled aggregate concrete and the results were presented in this paper. The addition of recycled coarse
aggregate (RCA) retrieved from construction and demolition(C&D) wastes showed promising function in
construction industry as an alternative to natural aggregates. It conserves enormous quantities of natural
resources and reduces the space required for the landfill disposal of C&D wastes. In this study an increment
of 25% partial replacements by weight of natural aggregates with recycled aggregates in geopolymer
concrete up to 100% replacements were studied. The concrete containing virgin aggregate and ordinary
Portland cement was consider as control concrete and the results of geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete
(GP-RAC) were compared with this. The fresh and mechanical properties of all the above four concrete
mixes has been investigated. Results indicated that workability of geopolymer concrete decreases than
control concrete and it took more than 24 hours to set. Geo polymer based recycled aggregate concrete
exhibits better and durability performance than ordinary recycled aggregate concrete.strength

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INTERFERENCE: This experimental work studied the influence of recycled coarse aggregate obtained
from the demolished concrete on engineering and durability characteristics of the geopolymer recycled
aggregate concrete and the following conclusions were made.
 Reduction in the slump value with the increase in the RCA volume.

 Addition of super plasticizer and using SSD aggregates greatly reduces the excess the excess amount
of water needed.
 The compressive and tensile strength of concrete gets decreased, as the recycled aggregate content
increased.

 Geopolymer concrete attains its strength at higher rate in early stages compared to the control
concrete.

 The Geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete showed better strength characteristics than ordinary
recycled aggregate concrete.

 The sorptivity was directly proportional to replacement of natural aggregate with recycled aggregate.
GP-RAC showed better sorptivity than ordinary RAC.

5. GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE
(-By M. I. Abdul Aleem, P. D. Arumairaj)
Assistant Professor (Selection Grade), Department of Civil Engineering, Sri
Ramakrishna Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, India.
Associate Professor in Civil Engineering, Govt. College of Technology, Coimbatore, India.

ABSTRACT:
Concrete is the world’s most versatile, durable and reliable construction material. Next to water,
concrete is the most used material, which required large quantities of Portland Cement. Ordinary Portland
Cement production is the second only to the automobile as the major generator of carbon di oxide, which
polluted the atmosphere. In addition to that large amount energy was also consumed for the cement
production. Hence, it is inevitable to find an alternative material to the existing most expensive, most
resource consuming Portland Cement. Geopolymer concrete is an innovative construction material which
shall be produced by the chemical action of inorganic molecules. Fly Ash, a by- product of coal obtained
from the thermal power plant is plenty availableworldwide. Flyash is rich insilica and alumina reacted with
alkaline solution produced aluminosilicate gel that acted as the binding material for the concrete. It is an
excellent alternative construction material to the existing plain cement concrete.

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INTERFERENCE:
User-friendly geopolymer concrete can be used under conditions similar to those suitable for
ordinary Portland cement concrete. These constituents of Geopolymer Concrete shall be capable of being
mixed with a relatively low-alkali activating solution and must be curable in a reasonable time under
ambient conditions. The production of versatile, cost-effective geopolymer concrete can be mixed and
hardened essentially like Portland cement. Geopolymer Concrete shall be used in repairs and rehabilitation
works

NECESSITY OF GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE

Construction is one of the fast-growing fields worldwide. As per the present world statistics, every
year around 260,00,00,000 Tons of Cement is required. This quantity will be increased by 25% within a
span of another 10 years. Since the Lime stone is the main source material for the ordinary Portland cement
an acute shortage of limestone may come after 25 to 50 years. More over while producing one ton of
cement, approximately one ton of carbon di oxide will be emitted to the atmosphere, which is a major threat
for the environment. In addition to the above huge quantity of energy is also required for the production of
cement. Hence it is most essential to find an alternative binder.
The Cement production generated carbon di oxide, which pollutes the atmosphere. The Thermal Industry
produces a waste called flyash which is simply dumped on the earth, occupies larges areas. The waste water
from the Chemical Industries is discharged into the ground which contaminates ground water. By producing
Geopolymer Concrete all the above-mentioned issues shall be solved by rearranging them.
Waste Fly Ash from Thermal Industry + Waste water from Chemical Refineries = Geo polymer concrete.
Since Geopolymer concrete doesn’t use any cement, the production of cement shall be reduced and hence
the pollution of atmosphere by the emission of carbon di oxide shall also be minimized.

METHODOLOGY:

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REFERENCES:
Davidovits, J. 1984. “Pyramids of Egypt Made of Man- Made Stone, Myth or Fact?” Symposium on
Archaeometry 1984. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Davidovits, J. 2008. Geopolymer Chemistry and Applications. Institute Geopolymer, Saint-Quentin,

France.

Geopolymer Institute. 2010. What Is a Geopolymer? Introduction. Institute Geopolymer, Saint-

Quentin, France. Accessed on January 29, 2010, at http://www.geopolymer.org/science/introduction.

Hardjito, D., S. Wallah, D. M. J. Sumajouw, and B. V. Rangan. 2004. “On the Development of Fly Ash–
Based Geopolymer Concrete.” ACI Materials Journal, vol. 101, no. 6.
Rangan, B. V. “Low-Calcium, Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete.” Concrete Construction
Engineering Handbook. Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, 2008.

Lloyd, N., and V. Rangan. 2009. “Geopolymer Concrete—Sustainable Cementless Concrete.” ACI Special
Publication SP-261, 10th ACI International Conference on Recent Advances in Concrete Technology and
Sustainability Issues. American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI.

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