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Influence of slag content on mechanical, durability and microstructural performance and their correlations in fly ash geopolymers exposed to marine environment

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Abstract

This paper attempts to examine the influence of slag content on the fly ash geopolymer concrete exposed to the marine environment and to analyse their interrelationship between the mechanical and durability properties towards the microstructural parameters. The dosage of the slag content is varied with a 10% increment up to 40% based on the literature and preliminary trial mixes. Sodium-based alkaline activator with hydroxide to silicate ratio of 2 is considered and the molarity is fixed as 8M. Several experimental tests to access the mechanical, durability and microstructural parameters are performed. 28-day ambient cured specimens were subjected to a marine environment for various exposure durations and their corresponding mechanical and durability results are obtained which are then interrelated upon microstructural parameters. Irrespective of the dosage of slag, all the specimens show 40–50% deterioration in mechanical properties after 150 days of exposure to the marine environment. 30% dosage of slag which showed higher mechanical performance in unexposed conditions showed a high rate of deterioration after marine exposure, around 50% in mechanical and durability properties, whereas 40% slag mix which showed lesser efficiency before exposure, showed good resistance to strength loss and external agent ingress. SEM images revealed that the weathering action of NaCl salts deteriorates the surface and the size of pores and flaws largely influence the mechanical and durability performances of the exposed specimens. EDAX test confirms the unexpected chemical reactions with respect to intensity and reactions between specimens and marine exposure.

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Acknowledgements

The project staff at VFSTR, Guntur, India, contributed greatly to the execution of the experiments, which the authors gratefully acknowledge.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Vadlamudi, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Chennakesava Reddy Gadikota & D. S. Chandra

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  1. Chennakesava Reddy Gadikota
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  2. D. S. Chandra
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CRG: Manuscript writing, draft, methodology, investigation, result analysis. DSC: Reviewing, supervising, drafting

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Correspondence to Chennakesava Reddy Gadikota.

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Gadikota, C.R., Chandra, D.S. Influence of slag content on mechanical, durability and microstructural performance and their correlations in fly ash geopolymers exposed to marine environment. Asian J Civ Eng 25, 2091–2108 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42107-023-00896-8

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