Abstract

The need to reduce the global anthropogenic carbon dioxide has encouraged researchers to search for sustainable building material. The second most consumed product in the world is concrete. Cement contributes 7% of the global carbon emission. Geopolymer Concrete (GPC) which is manufactured using industrial waste like fly ash, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) is becoming a more eco-friendly alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. The objective is to study the fly ash and GGBS on the mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete at full replacement of cement. Sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution have been used as alkaline activators. The effect of replacement of cement with fly ash and GGBS at varying percentage on strength of geopolymer concrete is studied. Additionally, the feasibility of production of geopolymer concrete using fly ash and GGBS is also evaluated in this study. In the present investigation, it is proposed to study the mechanical properties viz. compressive strength and split tensile strength of fly ash-GGBS based geopolymer concrete. These properties have been determined at curing periods 7 and 28 days and at ambient room temperature. From this study it is concluded that full replacement of cement with fly ash and GGBS gives good strength properties. The maximum compressive strength is observed to be attained at full replacement of cement by fly ash and GGBS having a proportion ratio of 1:1 which is more than the optimum mix in full replacement had an increase in cost than the conventional mix. However, with respect to its strength characteristics it still economical. From these conclusions we can say that, it will be a good initiative to give a solution for solid waste disposal as well as to reduce the CO2 emission generated during the process of cement manufacturing.