Development of Solid and Hollow Geopolymer Masonry Blocks

Abstract

AbstractCement masonry units are not considered as sustainable due to consumption of fuel, cement and natural resources. It is essential to find alternatives. This paper reports about making of Geopolymers solid and hollow blocks and masonry prisms and wallets using non conventional materials like fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and manufacture sand which were cured in ambient temperature. They were tested for water absorption, initial rate of water absorption, dry density, dimensionality, compressive, flexural, and bond-strength. Also they were tested with and without lateral confinement, modulus of elasticity, alternative drying and wetting test and to masonry efficiency. It was found that the properties of geopolymer blocks were superior to the traditional masonry blocks. Masonry efficiency increases with decrease in thickness of the cement mortar joints. There was marginal difference in strength between rendered and unrendered geopolymer masonry blocks. The percentage of weight gain after 7 cycles was less than 6%. The percentage of reduction in strength of geopolymer solid block and hollow blocks were 26% and 28 respectively. It is observed that the average compressive strength of the axially loaded and eccentrically loaded wallets for the solid blocks was 2.07 and 1.87 MPa and hollow blocks was 2.31 and 1.95 MPa respectively. These properties are comparatively better than the traditional masonry Hence geopolymer blocks can be recommended for structural masonry.