Development of Geopolymer Concrete for Sustainable Infrastructures

This research is based on the development of sustainable concrete which would replace the conventional concrete. This special type of concrete is called as geopolymer concrete (GPC). Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is generally utilised as a primary binder material for casting of concrete around the world. But, it is well known that generation of OPC adversely affects the environment. Thus, researchers and scientists are looking for alternative binder from industrial by-product. One of these by-product are fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) which can used in the presence of alkaline activator to develop GPC. The fly ash is the by-product of thermal power plant, and GGBS is the by-product of steel-manufacturing plant. The combined solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) is usually used as alkaline activators. The objective of this paper is to develop GPC under ambient curing condition by using locally available materials nearby IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, for sustainable infrastructures. Emphasis has been given towards ambient curing so that the developed GPC can be applicable to the general practical application. Various mechanical properties such as compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength are mainly taken into consideration. Research outcome reveals that FA-GGBS-based GPC could able to provide comparable mechanical properties to that of conventional concrete and has the potential for wider application in civil infrastructures.