Effect of elevated temperature on the mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete: a critical review

Abstract

AbstractThe need for concrete is increasing exponentially due to the growing population and fast urbanization. The primary constituent in concrete is ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Producing cement involves a significant quantity of embodied energy and leads to the release of greenhouse gases. Geopolymer concrete (GPC) was created to address the adverse environmental effects of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and the overdependence on fossil fuels in cement production. In addition to reducing environmental consequences, geopolymer concrete shows outstanding resistance to higher temperatures compared to OPC concrete, which maintains temperatures up to 1200 °C. This review investigates the field of GPC, focusing on its ability to withstand high temperatures. It briefly reviews geopolymer concrete's mechanical properties at high temperatures. It has been observed that residual compressive strength, which is essential in high-temperature GPC studies, generally increases to 150–350 °C but decreases beyond 400 °C because of microcrack formation. Moreover, enhanced tensile strength is demonstrated up to 300 °C, with a noticeable decrease above 800 °C. This study emphasizes the potential of geopolymer concrete for improving fire protection measures in the building industry.