Effect of aspect ratio and volume fraction of steel fibers in strength properties of geopolymer concrete

Abstract

In this present study, a trail has been conducted to examine the influence of dissimilar aspect ratio and diverse volume fractions of steel fibers in GPC under various curing exposures on the fresh and mechanical properties. Meanwhile, the major strength performance of concrete such as compressive strength, split tensile, flexural, workability and microstructure properties were also studied. From the test results, it was revealed that in the heat curing method, there was just a low augmentation in the compressive strength at 28 years old days when compared with ambient curing condition. Then again, a radical increment in the compressive strength was recognized at 3 days on account of thermal curing because of the elevated polymerization process. The microstructure investigation illustrated that the FA and GGBS particles reacted with the alkaline activator solution and formed a denser structure in the heat curing process when compared with the room-cured specimens because of the unreacted particles present in it. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows that the geopolymer particles are crystalline in nature. It was observed that the strength properties were increases with the augment in aspect ratio (Ar) and high percentage volume of steel fibers.