Novel Ductile Enhancement in the Structural Characteristics of External Beam Column Joint with Potassium Activated Green Concrete Technology: An Artistic Establishment of Seismic Challenging Structures

Abstract

Ductility and energy dissipation capacity of the beam column joints are the two prominent characteristics which governs the stability of the entire structure constructed in the seismic prone areas. In this paper, the effect of potassium activated geopolymer concrete in the exterior beam column joint application is investigated under low frequency cyclic loading. Numerical analysis has been done by using the finite element software Abaqus and compared with the experimental work. From the load deformation relationship, parametric studies are carried out in the aspects of ductility, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity, drift ratio and cracking pattern. The use of potassium activated geopolymer technology in the exterior beam column joint application resulted in the improved ductility, energy dissipation capacity with superior ultimate load carrying capacity of 1.05% over conventional cement reinforced concrete beam column joints with special confining reinforcement confirmed by IS 13920 due to the enormous polymerisation activated by high molecular potassium ions.2.78% improved energy dissipation capacity of potassium based geopolymer specimen resulted in the lesser number of non structural cracks and 11.26% more deformation under 11.96% enlarged drift ratio than the conventional reinforced concrete specimen. From the observed results it is clearly noted that the implementation potassium activated green polymer technology in the beam column joints possessed enhanced ductility characteristics to protect the structure susceptible to seismic environment and resulted in the innovative, economical and sustainable mode of seismic resistant building construction.