Effect of Polypropylene fibers over GGBS based Geopolymer Concrete Under Ambient Curing

Abstract

Geopolymer is being widely used in the construction industry in the recent years. Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) based geopolymer concrete is the most suited for ambient curing conditions. It has been perceived that geopolymer concrete is brittle in nature. This brittleness could be reduced by the augmentation of fibers. The objective of this paper is to study the effect of incorporation of polypropylene fibers in Geopolymer Concrete. The various proportions of the ingredients of Geopolymer concrete were calculated from the B.V.Rangan mix design of Geopolymer Concrete. Based on the previous research works conducted by the author, optimum molarity of the sodium hydroxide solution to be used as a part of alkaline activator solution was taken as 13M. Polypropylene fibers were added to the matrix in the ratios from 0.1% to 0.6%. Cubical, Cylindrical and Prism Specimens were casted and subjected to ambient curing. Compaction factor test was performed to measure workability of fresh concrete and tests such as compressive strength test, split tensile strength test and flexural strength test were performed to assess the mechanical properties of hardened Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete. Tests were carried after curing period of 7days & 28 days and the results were tabulated. Being a low modulus fiber, the fiberposses a good post cracking behaviour and reduce the brittleness of the Geopolymer Concrete. The incorporation of polypropylene fibers increases the compressive strength and flexural strength initially and then decreases.