Analysis of the Numerical Results Obtained from the Experimental Examination of the Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Concrete

Abstract

Activated alkaline slag concretes (AASC), also known as geopolymer concretes (GPCs), are concretes with high mechanical properties. Theoretical alkali-active materials, granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and nano-silica (NS) contain aluminosilicate materials that play an effective role in improving the mechanical properties of concrete. The use of fibers such as polyolefin fibers (POFs). in the composition of concrete improves the resistance of concrete against applied loads. In this research, tests of compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, impact of falling weight, and determining the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD), at the age of 90 days under 25 and 500 °C was done on GPCsThe results demonstrate that adding NS to GPCs changes the resistance of the sample against heating treatment in the compressive strength test from 16.4 to 8.4%, from 21 to 13% in the tensile strength test, and 41 to 33% in the modulus of elasticity. Besides, the presence of POFs in the GPCs mixture substantially affect tensile strength, and resistance against an impact. In the following, the results UPV test are compared and evaluated through numerical investigations by conducting UPV tests and analysis SEM, XRD and XRF.