Mechanical Properties of Entirely Cement-Replacement Fly Ash-Based Geopolymers (G-SIFCON) and Cement-Based SIFCON: A Comparison Study

Abstract:

Environmentally friendly building materials known as geopolymers are made by combining high-alkalinity solutions with powder components rich in silica and alumina. It has long been known that adding fibers to the matrix phase can improve the mechanical characteristics of composite materials made for various uses. Among these are SIFCON composites, which are made by first inserting the fibers into the mold and then packing the gaps between the fibers with an extremely fluid matrix phase. The present study looked over the mechanical properties and efficiency of cement-based and geopolymer-based slurry infiltrated fiber concrete SIFCON and G-SIFCON. In the current study, for the production of both SIFCON and G-SIFCON composites, 7.5% steel fiber by volume fraction was utilized for this purpose. Therefore, sets of concrete specimens including cylinders and prisms were prepared and tested in accordance with standard specifications. The results obtained from the conducted tests prove that the 7.5% of steel fiber ratio can be used effectively to improve the mechanical performance of G-SIFCON and SIFCON composites. Furthermore, the cement-based SIFCON can be effectively replaced by fly ash-based geopolymers. Also, for composites made with fly ash-based geopolymers (G-SIFCON), high compressive strength slurries may exhibit more enhancement in mechanical properties than normal strength slurries.

• Periodical: Advanced Engineering Forum (Volume 53)
• Pages: 19-30
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-0J6euO
• Online since: December 2024
• Authors: Msheer Hasan Ali*
• Keywords: Geopolymers, G-SIFCON, Mechanical Properties, SIFCON, Steel Fiber

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