Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Civil Engineering Dept., University of Technology-Iraq, Alsina’a street, 10066 Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract

Geopolymer is a binder material that was created as a result of efforts to decrease Portland cement's negative environmental effects.  Geopolymer concrete shares certain properties with ordinary concrete, including brittleness. Like ordinary concrete, geopolymer concrete, when exposed to stresses, cracks and fails under these stresses. The purpose of adding fibers to geopolymer concrete is to overcome the matrix's brittleness and enhance its strength (particularly flexural strength). This study used metakaolin, a range of alkaline activators, and different quantities of polypropylene fibers to produce geopolymer concrete. Metakaolin's chemical composition, workability, density, flexural and compressive strength of geopolymer concrete were all examined for the purpose of determining the effect of polypropylene fibers on geopolymer concrete. Polypropylene fibers were used to make the mixes, which were then added to the mix at various percentages of 0 %, 0.5 %, and 1 % of the total volume of concrete. The results of the experiments showed that increasing the polypropylene fiber content to 0.5 % boosts the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete. On the seventh day, the compressive strength increased to 21 %. The density of geopolymer concrete was increased by adding polypropylene fibers, and there was a decrease in the workability with different fiber ratios.

Highlights

  • Adding fibers to geopolymer concrete improves the brittleness and its strength.
  • The polypropylene fiber content boosts the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete.
  • The density of geopolymer concrete was increased by adding polypropylene fibers.
  • The workability of geopolymer concrete was decreased by adding polypropylene fibers.

Keywords

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