PurposeImportant differentiating attributes in the procedures used, the characteristic mineral composition of the binders, and the implications these have on the final long term stability and physico-mechanical performance of the concretes produced are identified and discussed, with the intent to improve transparency and clarity in the field of geopolymer concrete technologies.Design/methodology/approachThis state-of-the-art review covers the area of geopolymer concrete, a class of sustainable construction materials that use a variety of alternative powders in lieu of cement for composing concrete, most being a combination of industrial by-products and natural resources rich in specific required minerals. It explores extensively the available essential materials for geopolymer concrete and provides a deeper understanding of its underlying chemical mechanisms.FindingsThis is a state-of-the-art review introducing the essential characteristics of alternative powders used in geopolymer binders and the effectiveness these have on material performance.Practical implicationsWith the increase of need for alternative cementitious materials, identifying and understanding the critical material components and the effect they may have on the performance of the resulting mixes in fresh as well as hardened state become a critical requirement to for short- and long-term quality control (e.g. flash setting, efflorescence, etc.).Originality/valueThe topic explored is significant in the field of sustainable concrete technologies where there are several parallel but distinct material technologies being developed, such as geopolymer concrete and alkali-activated concrete. Behavioral aspects and results are not directly transferable between the two fields of cementitious materials development, and these differences are explored and detailed in the present study.
Due to growing environmental and economic concerns associated with conventional building materials, research interest gravitates towards the development of novel environmentally friendly materials as alternatives to conventional Portland cement concrete. Geopolymer concrete is a class of novel advanced and sustainable structural materials that hold promise for the future of infrastructure. Its synthesis comprises industrial by-products (fly ash and slag among others) in the role of binder and thus reduces the demand in Portland cement leading to a significant carbon footprint reduction. In the present study a High-Performance Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete (HPFRGC) is synthesized from first principles and is subsequently characterized, with particular emphasis on its microstructural and mineralogical properties. The study explores the linkage between the microstructure and mineralogy of the precursors, and the properties of the final product. Both fresh and hardened HPFRGC are studied. Experimental results illustrate the correlation between microstructure, mineralogy and final mechanical properties can be used as an indicator of suitability of industrial by-products for geopolymer precursors. The effect of these choices on stability and physical properties of the material is also explored in the study.
Canadian Bridges are particularly vulnerable to corrosion and long-term durability problems initiated by the easy fracture and delamination of concrete under combined stress and climatic exposure. UHPC is an alternative construction material that holds great promise to alleviate many of those durability and strength problems both in new construction and in retrofitting. While only recently it was considered an emerging material, UHPC is now implemented in infrastructure, necessitating full understanding of material behavior with ultimate goal to exploit its unique properties in design practices. In this study, a proprietary UHPC mix produced by DURA Canada is used to assess the material characterization techniques prescribed by Canadian Standards Association (CSA) for UHPC materials. This research serves as a case study for proof testing the repeatability and robustness of the prequalification procedures specified by the2019 CSA Standards, in light of the fact that these procedures have only been recently drafted and introduced in the Code. Additional objective is to evaluate the material's compliance with requirements for abrasion, salt scaling, absorption, chloride ion penetration, and freeze thaw resistance according to the different standards used by the Canadian Industry as well as time dependent properties such as creep, shrinkage, and coefficient of thermal expansion. Finally, this paper will present in detail the specimen preparation and testing, as well as the challenges encountered, lessons learnt and recommendations for future editions of the code.
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