The Impact of Utilizing Sustainable Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag and Reinforced Basalt Fibers on the Mechanical Characteristics of Geopolymer Concrete
Received: 4 April 2025 | Revised: 26 April 2025 and 10 May 2025 | Accepted: 15 May 2025 | Online: 2 August 2025
Corresponding author: Ahmed Jasim Oraibi
Abstract
Geopolymer Concrete (GPC) is a material with low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions utilized in the cement-production industry. This study produced GPC using 30% Fly Ash (FA) and 70% Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBFS). The alkaline activation solution was made up of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The mineral sodium silicate weighs 2.5:1 compared to sodium hydroxide. For the reinforcement Basalt Fibers (BFs) were utilized at volume fractions of 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%. To cure the GPC specimens, they were heated in an oven for 4 hours at 70°C over 2 days. Τhe GPC mixture with 1% BFs showed the greatest enhancement in compressive strength, that is, by 64.650 and 75.641 MPa. Flexural strength increased by 60.3% - 69.8% compared to the reference mix after 7 - 28 days of curing. At 28 days, the results of the tests on water absorption, void content, and bulk density were 1.383%, 1.116%, and 2535 kg/m³, respectively. BF utilization significantly improved GPC mechanical performance qualities.
Keywords:
geopolymer concrete, ground granulated blas-furnace slag, fly ash, basalt fibersDownloads
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