Mode I fracture energy of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete

Author Identifier

Trijon Karmokar: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7522-5464

Alireza Mohyeddin: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3487-3016

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Title

Proceedings of Concrete Institute of Australia Biennial National Conference

Publisher

Concrete Institute of Australia

School

School of Engineering

RAS ID

62445

Comments

Karmokar, T., Mohyeddin Kermani, A., Lee, J. (2023). Mode I fracture energy of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete. Proceedings of Concrete Institute of Australia Biennial National Conference. Concrete Institute of Australia

Abstract

Geopolymer concrete uses inorganic binding materials such as fly ash or blast-furnace slag in contrast to conventional concrete, which relies on cement. Utilisation of geopolymer concrete reduces the carbon-footprint by decreasing the production of cement, which is one of the highest CO2 emitting industries, and by reusing the (geopolymer) industrial waste. The mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete and the factors influencing them are well established, however, detailed studies on its fracture energy are limited. In the current study, the mode I fracture energy of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete was investigated using the wedge-splitting test (WST) method. Research was conducted to identify the effects of several factors on the fracture energy of geopolymer concrete, including the curing temperature, sodium hydroxide concentration and addition of water. Increase in the curing temperature to 60°C had the maximum influence indicating approximately 300% increase in fracture energy. For the ambient- temperature cured geopolymer concrete, an increase in fracture energy was observed when the molarity of the sodium hydroxide solution was increased. Addition of water in the geopolymer concrete mix improved the workability of the mix, however, compromised the fracture energy. Overall, the fracture energy of ambient-temperature cured geopolymer concrete was approximately 85% lower and was comparable in the case of elevated-temperature cured geopolymer concrete, when compared to that of conventional concrete.

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