Influence of mono fiber of different aspect ratios on fresh and strength characteristics of geopolymer concrete

Abstract

Utilization of industrial waste to produce geopolymer concrete is a good answer to minimize the carbon-dioxide( Co₂) released from the traditional procedure of producing Ordinary Portland cement (OPC). This not only helps to mitigate the release of greenhouse gases, but also provides a sustainable method for managing industrial waste. For production of geopolymer concrete (GPC), ingredients such as supplementary cementitious materials i.e. industrial by- products, slag (GGBS/GGBFS) and fly ash are required. GPC is advantageous over OPC in many respects such as decreasing in pollutants and energy consumption. As GPC is weak in resisting tensile strength, fibers are mixed with GPC which enhances tensile strength, stiffness and toughness. Addition of short and long fibers in a graded manner creates a composite material that performs better under stress. Short fibers help in controlling micro-cracking, improving durability and toughness. Long fibers, on the contrary, play a critical role in bridging and controlling macro-cracks. Addition of long fiber, thus delays failure and enhances the concrete's post-cracking behavior. The combination of short fiber and long fibers ( graded fiber)can produce a more durable and resilient concrete, that will be beneficial for various structural applications. The approach of adding graded fiber to GPC improves the performance, supports sustainability by plummeting reliance on traditional cement and reusing industrial waste. This study also provides empirical relationships to estimate strength in flexure and split in terms of compressive strength. From experimental results, splitting tensile strength can be estimated as 0.08 times the strength of concrete in compression and flexural strength is 0.8*sqrt (compressive strength). These findings demonstrate the potential of using graded glass fibers in geopolymer concrete to enhance its mechanical performance while addressing environmental concerns associated with traditional cement. For improved workability and strength, the ingredients should be accurately batched. Suitable admixtures may be incorporated to mitigate the reduction in slump caused by the addition of fibers. The outcome of the study demonstrate that the fibers effectively bridges cracks and enhances the load-carrying capacity of the concrete.