Experimental Investigation on Strength and Durability Properties of Slag Based Alkali Activated Concrete Incorporating Fly Ash

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Special Issue 02 | Page : 393 400
    By

    Shashwati Soumay Pradhan,

  • Umesh Mishra,

  • Sushant Kumar Biswal,

  1. PhD Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Agartala, Tripura, India
  2. Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Agartala, Tripura, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Agartala, Tripura, India

Abstract

To minimize carbon emissions during cement production and to resolve landfill issues arising from industrial waste, the adoption of alkali-activated concrete (AAC) incorporating various by-products from industry has become increasingly popular as environmentally friendly option to conventional concrete in the construction sector. This study focused on strength and durability of AAC by utilizing waste industrial by-products such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) at ambient temperature. The amount of FA used to partially replace GGBS ranged from 5% to 30% in AAC. The compressive strength and durability parameters were evaluated, including sorptivity, depth of carbonation, rapid chloride penetration and acid (H2SO4) attack. Compressive strength is progressively decreased when FA content is raised, but strength is increased when curing time is extended. The lower FA substitution in slag based AAC shows higher resistance to absorption in sorptivity. The depth of carbonation was evaluated after 90 days. Due to the prolonged curing period, the chloride ion penetration was improved. As the amount of FA in the mixture increases, the acid resistance of slag-FA based AAC is improved. Hence, using lower FA substitution perform better than those with higher FA substitution in GGBS based AAC.

Keywords: Compressive strength, sorptivity, carbonation, chloride ion penetration, acid attack

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer and Composites (jopc)]

How to cite this article:
Shashwati Soumay Pradhan, Umesh Mishra, Sushant Kumar Biswal. Experimental Investigation on Strength and Durability Properties of Slag Based Alkali Activated Concrete Incorporating Fly Ash. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(02):393-400.
How to cite this URL:
Shashwati Soumay Pradhan, Umesh Mishra, Sushant Kumar Biswal. Experimental Investigation on Strength and Durability Properties of Slag Based Alkali Activated Concrete Incorporating Fly Ash. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(02):393-400. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=206224


Browse Figures

References

1.       Marathe S, Mithanthaya IR, Shenoy RY. Durability and microstructure studies on Slag-Fly Ash-Glass powder based alkali activated pavement quality concrete mixes. Constr Build Mater [Internet]. 2021;287:123047. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123047

2.       Pradhan SS, Mishra U, Biswal SK, Jangra P, Pham TM, Arora S, et al. Effects of crumb rubber inclusion on strength, permeability, and acid attack resistance of alkali-activated concrete incorporating different industrial wastes. Struct Concr. 2022;23(6):3616–30.

3.       Pradhan SS, Pramanik S, Mishra U, Biswal SK, Thapa S. Effect of RHA on Mechanical Properties of GGBS Based Alkali Activated Concrete: An Experimental and Statistical Modelling. Russ J Nondestruct Test [Internet]. 2023;59(7):767–84. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1061830923600375

4.       Ayrilmis N, Kanat G, Yildiz Avsar E, Palanisamy S, Ashori A. Utilizing waste manhole covers and fibreboard as reinforcing fillers for thermoplastic composites. J Reinf Plast Compos. 2024;

5.       Pradhan SS, Mishra U, Biswal SK, Parveen. Development of sustainable slag-based alkali-activated concrete incorporating fly ash at ambient curing conditions. Energy, Ecol Environ [Internet]. 2024;(Pradhan 2021):1–15. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40974-024-00319-7

6.       Kar A, Saikia D, Palanisamy S, Santulli C, Fragassa C, Thomas S. Effect of Alkali Treatment under Ambient and Heated Conditions on the Physicochemical, Structural, Morphological, and Thermal Properties of Calamus tenuis Cane Fibers. Fibers. 2023;11(11).

7.       Pramanik S, Pradhan SS, Mishra U. Effect of Fly Ash Inclusion on Fresh and Hardened Properties of Concrete: A Review [Internet]. Vol. 233, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering. Springer, Singapore; 2022 [cited 2022 May 16]. 505–516 p. Available from: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-19-0189-8_41

8.       Sumit Gandhi, S. Sheeju Selva Roji, Milan Motta, R. Ravindra D Nalawade, Maaz Allah Khan, Sivasubramanian Palanisamy. Analysis of potential incorporation of waste into asphalt pavements. In: Materials Today: Proceedings. Elsevier; 2024.

9.       Prusty JK, Pradhan B. Effect of GGBS and chloride on compressive strength and corrosion performance of steel in fly ash-GGBS based geopolymer concrete. In: Materials Today: Proceedings [Internet]. Elsevier Ltd; 2020. p. 850–5. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.04.210

10.   Sivasubramanian P, Kalimuthu M, Palaniappan M, Alavudeen A, Rajini N, Santulli C. Effect of alkali treatment on the properties of acacia caesia bark fibres. Fibers. 2021;9(8):1–14.

11.   Xie J, Wang J, Zhang B, Fang C, Li L. Physicochemical properties of alkali activated GGBS and fly ash geopolymeric recycled concrete. Constr Build Mater [Internet]. 2019;204:384–98. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.01.191

12.   Benphil C Mathew, Joseph John Marshal, Sivasubramanian Palanisamy, Nadir Ayrilmis. An overview on recent approaches on drying of natural rubber materials. In: Materials Research Express. IOP Science; 2024.

13.   Lee WH, Wang JH, Ding YC, Cheng TW. A study on the characteristics and microstructures of GGBS/FA based geopolymer paste and concrete. Constr Build Mater. 2019 Jun 30;211:807–13.

14.   B.V. Bahoria, A. Ranjith, G. Laxmaiah, S. Solomon Raj, Manas Ranjan Padhi, Sivasubramanian Palanisamy. Verification of the mechanical behavior of concrete with partial replacement of the fiber resulting from tire retreading. In: Materials Today: Proceedings. Elsevier; 2024.

15.   Rafeet A, Vinai R, Soutsos M, Sha W. Guidelines for mix proportioning of fly ash/GGBS based alkali activated concretes. Constr Build Mater [Internet]. 2017;147:130–42. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.04.036

16.   Pradhan SS, Mishra U, Biswal SK, Pramanik S, Jangra P, Aslani F. Effects of rice husk ash on strength and durability performance of slag-based alkali-activated concrete. Struct Concr [Internet]. 2023 Jul 6 [cited 2023 Jul 7];1–15. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/suco.202300173

17.   IS: 516 (Part 1/Sec 1) Indian Standard. Hardened Concrete – Methods of Test, Part 1 Testing of Strength of Hardened Concrete, Section 1 Compressive, Flexural and Split Tensile Strength. Bur Indian Stand New Dehli. 2021;

18.   ASTM C1585-04. Standard Test Method for Measurement of Rate of Absorption of Water by Hydraulic Cement Concretes. ASTM International. 2004.

19.   ASTM C1202. Standard Test Method for Electrical Indication of Concrete’s Ability to Resist Chloride Ion Penetration. Am Soc Test Mater. 2012;(C):1–8.

20.   Pradhan SS, Mishra U, Biswal SK. Influence of RHA on strength and durability properties of alkali activated concrete. In: Materials Today: Proceedings [Internet]. Elsevier Ltd; 2023. p. 3–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.03.504

21.   Pradhan SS, Mishra U, Biswal SK, Parveen. Mechanical and microstructural study of slag based alkali activated concrete incorporating RHA. Constr Build Mater [Internet]. 2023;400(132685):1–11. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132685

22.   Alonso S, Palomo A. Alkaline activation of metakaolin and calcium hydroxide mixtures: Influence of temperature, activator concentration and solids ratio. Mater Lett. 2001;47(1–2):55–62.

23.   Hadi MNS, Farhan NA, Sheikh MN. Design of geopolymer concrete with GGBFS at ambient curing condition using Taguchi method. Constr Build Mater [Internet]. 2017;140:424–31. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.02.131

24.   Khatib JM, Hibbert JJ. Selected engineering properties of concrete incorporating slag and metakaolin. Constr Build Mater. 2005;19(6):460–72.

25.   Nanayakkara O, Gunasekara C, Sandanayake M, Law DW, Nguyen K, Xia J, et al. Alkali activated slag concrete incorporating recycled aggregate concrete: Long term performance and sustainability aspect. Constr Build Mater [Internet]. 2021;271(xxxx):121512. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121512

26.   Ridtirud C, Chindaprasirt P, Pimraksa K. Factors affecting the shrinkage of fly ash geopolymers. Int J Miner Metall Mater. 2011;18(1):100–4.

27.   Lavanya G, Jegan J. Durability Study on High Calcium Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete. Adv Mater Sci Eng. 2015;2015.

28.   LI Z, LI S. Carbonation resistance of fly ash and blast furnace slag based geopolymer concrete. Constr Build Mater [Internet]. 2018;163:668–80. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.12.127

29.   Behfarnia K, Rostami M. An assessment on parameters affecting the carbonation of alkali-activated slag concrete. J Clean Prod. 2017;157:1–9.

30.   Zhu H, Zhang Z, Zhu Y, Tian L. Durability of alkali-activated fly ash concrete: Chloride penetration in pastes and mortars. Constr Build Mater [Internet]. 2014;65:51–9. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.04.110

31.   Chi M, Chen H, Weng T, Huang R, Wang Y. Durability of alkali-activated fly ash/slag concrete. Mater Sci Forum. 2017;904 MSF:157–61.

32.   Yaragal SC, Chethan Kumar B, Jitin C. Durability studies on ferrochrome slag as coarse aggregate in sustainable alkali activated slag/fly ash based concretes. Sustain Mater Technol [Internet]. 2019;23:e00137. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2019.e00137

33.   Mehta A, Siddique R. Sulfuric acid resistance of fly ash based geopolymer concrete. Constr Build Mater. 2017 Aug 15;146:136–43.

Special Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Special Issue 02
Received 31/05/2024
Accepted 19/06/2024
Published 31/01/2025
Publication Time 245 Days
177

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics