Mix design processing for self compacting geopolymer mortar

Abstract

The mortar flow and flow speed of self-compacting geopolymer mortar (SCGM) were determined by considering the various influencing parameters for the normal self-compacting mortar (SCM) and geopolymer mortar (GM). The test results showed that the effect of volume of water to volume of powder on the relative flow area (Gm) and relative flow speed (Rm) was different compared to normal SCM due to the high viscosity of matrix. The flow properties of SCGM were analyzed in terms of volume of water to volume of powder ratio, and superplasticizer to powder ratio, powder to sand ratio, viscosity of alkaline liquid and the water to geopolymer solid ratio. According to the analysis, flow prediction models for SCGM were formulated based on the parameters of both physical and chemical point of view. Moreover, a mix design of SCGM including a flow chart and mathematical expression was also proposed. This indicates that the typical volume ratio of SCGM was similar to SCM considering the volume of alkaline liquid with water in SCGM was equivalent to the volume of water in SCM.