Optimizing Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete for Sustainable Infrastructure

Global Warming is one of the major threats to our ecosystem. Among all the greenhouses gases leading to global warming, carbon dioxide is of maximum percentage. Researchers are analysing and finding ways to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide into the environment. And even the infrastructure development is growing worldwide, so the demand for cement increases as it is the basic ingredient in concrete. Geopolymer concrete includes source material containing silicon and aluminium of geological origin or in by-product materials like fly ash, blast furnace slag etc., alkaline liquid which is commonly made by combining Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium Silicate solutions, coarse aggregate and fine aggregate. Even while curing it does not require any water hence it saves considerably large amount of water. The study is focused on the performance of fly ash and slag based geopolymer concrete with the addition of steel fiber & the effect of steel fiber on the properties of geopolymer concrete. The work is carried out by taking 60% fly ash and 40% GGBS as a replacement to cement and a combination of sodium silicate solution and 14M sodium hydroxide solution were used. In this study two types of steel fibers are used i.e., crimped steel fibers and hooked end steel fibers with an aspect ratio of 60, length of 30mm and diameter of 0.5mm. The two steel fibers were taken by varying percentages such as 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% by weight of concrete. A total of 96 cubes of 150mm X 150mm X 150mm were tested for compressive strength for 3, 7, 21 and 28days and the results are analyzed.