Mechanical Behaviors of Metakaolin-Based Engineered Geopolymer Composite under Ambient Curing Condition
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 34, Issue 7
Abstract
Geopolymers have been long recognized as the next-generation building material due to environmental reasons. However, geopolymers are inherently brittle and usually require high-temperature curing. This paper was intended to develop a ductile engineered geopolymer composite (EGC) under ambient curing conditions. Two types of metakaolin powder with different particle sizes were applied as the solid precursor. The tensile, compressive, and flexural behaviors of EGC with different mix designs were investigated. It was concluded that the combinational application of coarse and fine metakaolin is conducive to the tensile and compressive behaviors of EGC materials. As the alkali concentrations increased from 6 to , the tensile and compressive strength of EGC increased, whereas the tensile ductility of EGC decreased gradually. Also, the molar ratio had negligible influence on the tensile behavior of EGC, whereas the compressive strength decreased with the increase of molar ratios. A numerical model to predict the flexural behavior of EGC was also proposed, and the accuracy was verified with experimental results.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51908117) and the Victoria-Jiangsu Innovation and Technology R&D Fund (No. BZ2020019).
References
Amran, M., R. Alyousef, H. Alabduljabbar, and M. El-Zeadani. 2020. “Clean production and properties of geopolymer concrete: A review.” J. Cleaner Prod. 251 (1): 119679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119679.
Amran, M., S. Debbarma, and T. Ozbakkaloglu. 2021. “Fly ash-based eco-friendly geopolymer concrete: A critical review of the long-term durability properties.” Constr. Build. Mater. 270 (8): 121857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121857.
ASTM. 2017. Standard guide for measurement of the rheological properties of hydraulic cementitious paste using a rotational rheometer. ASTM C1749-17. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Atiş, C. D., E. B. Görür, N. Karahan, C. Bilim, N. İlkentapar, and E. Luga. 2015. “Very high strength (120 MPa) class F fly ash geopolymer mortar activated at different NaOH amount, heat curing temperature and heat curing duration.” Constr. Build. Mater. 96 (15): 673–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.08.089.
Bligh, R., and T. Glasby. 2013. “Development of geopolymer precast floor panels for the Global Change Institute at University of Queensland.” In Proc., Concrete Institute of Australia Biennial Conf., Concrete. San Francisco: Scribd.
Cadavid-Giraldo, N., M. C. Velez-Gallego, and A. Restrepo-Boland. 2020. “Carbon emissions reduction and financial effects of a cap and tax system on an operating supply chain in the cement sector.” J. Cleaner Prod. 275 (1): 122583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122583.
Cai, J., X. Li, J. Tan, and B. Vandevyvere. 2020a. “Thermal and compressive behaviors of fly ash and metakaolin-based geopolymer.” J. Build. Eng. 30 (Jul): 101307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101307.
Cai, J., J. Pan, J. Tan, B. Vandevyvere, and X. Li. 2020b. “Nonlinear analysis of ECC-encased CFST columns under axial compression.” J. Build. Eng. 31 (Sep): 101401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101401.
Cai, J., J. Pan, and X. Zhou. 2017. “Flexural behavior of basalt FRP reinforced ECC and concrete beams.” Constr. Build. Mater. 142 (Jul): 423–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.03.087.
Castel, A., and S. J. Foster. 2015. “Bond strength between blended slag and Class F fly ash geopolymer concrete with steel reinforcement.” Cem. Concr. Res. 72 (Jun): 48–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2015.02.016.
Chen, K., D. Wu, M. Yi, Q. Cai, and Z. Zhang. 2021. “Mechanical and durability properties of metakaolin blended with slag geopolymer mortars used for pavement repair.” Constr. Build. Mater. 281 (Apr): 122566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122566.
Cho, Y. K., S. W. Yoo, S. H. Jung, K. M. Lee, and S. J. Kwon. 2017. “Effect of content, molar ratio, and curing conditions on the compressive strength of FA-based geopolymer.” Constr. Build. Mater. 145 (Aug): 253–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.04.004.
Choi, J. I., B. Y. Lee, R. Ranade, V. C. Li, and Y. Lee. 2016. “Ultra-high-ductile behavior of a polyethylene fiber-reinforced alkali-activated slag-based composite.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 70 (Jul): 153–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2016.04.002.
Davidovits, J. 1991. “Geopolymers: Inorganic polymeric new materials.” J. Therm. Anal. Calorim. 37 (8): 1633–1656. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01912193.
Davidovits, J. 2002. “Environmentally driven geopolymer cement applications.” In Proc., Geopolymer Conf., 1–9. Saint Quentin, France: Geopolymer Institute.
Duxson, P., J. L. Provis, G. C. Lukey, F. Separovic, and J. S. van Deventer. 2005. “29Si NMR study of structural ordering in aluminosilicate geopolymer gels.” Langmuir 21 (7): 3028–3036. https://doi.org/10.1021/la047336x.
Ferdous, W., A. Manalo, A. Khennane, and O. Kayali. 2015. “Geopolymer concrete-filled pultruded composite beams-concrete mix design and application.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 58 (Apr): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.12.012.
Ganesan, N., P. V. Indira, and A. Santhakumar. 2013. “Prediction of ultimate strength of reinforced geopolymer concrete wall panels in one-way action.” Constr. Build. Mater. 48 (Nov): 91–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.06.090.
Gao, K., K. L. Lin, D. Wang, C. L. Hwang, H. S. Shiu, Y. M. Chang, and T. W. Cheng. 2014. “Effects molar ratio on mechanical properties and the microstructure of metakaolin-based geopolymers.” Constr. Build. Mater. 53 (Feb): 503–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.12.003.
JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers). 2004. Recommendations for design and construction of ultra high strength fiber reinforced concrete structures (draft): JSCE guidelines for concrete No. 9. JSCE-113. Tokyo: JSCE.
Kan, L. L., J. W. Lv, B. B. Duan, and M. Wu. 2019. “Self-healing of engineered geopolymer composites prepared by fly ash and metakaolin.” Cem. Concr. Res. 125 (Nov): 105895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2019.105895.
Kan, L. L., W. S. Wang, W. D. Liu, and M. Wu. 2020. “Development and characterization of fly ash based PVA fiber reinforced engineered geopolymer composites incorporating metakaolin.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 108 (Apr): 103521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103521.
Kinomura, K., and T. Ishida. 2020. “Enhanced hydration model of fly ash in blended cement and application of extensive modeling for continuous hydration to pozzolanic micro-pore structures.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 114 (Nov): 103733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103733.
Kotcher, J., E. Maibach, J. Miller, E. Campbell, L. Alqodmani, M. Maiero, and A. Wyns. 2021. “Views of health professionals on climate change and health: A multinational survey study.” Lancet Planet Health 5 (5): e316–e323. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00053-X.
Kumar, A. 2018. “Global warming, climate change and greenhouse gas mitigation.” In Biofuels: Greenhouse gas mitigation and global warming, 1–16. New Delhi, India: Springer.
Lang, L., B. Chen, and Y. Pan. 2020. “Engineering properties evaluation of unfired sludge bricks solidified by cement-fly ash-lime admixed under compaction forming technology.” Constr. Build. Mater. 259 (30): 119879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119879.
Li, V. C., and C. K. Y. Leung. 1992. “Steady-state and multiple cracking of short random fiber composites.” J. Eng. Mech. 118 (11): 2246–2264. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(1992)118:11(2246).
Limam, O., M. Aidi, and H. Zenzri. 2014. “Structural nominal concrete strength derived by statistical mechanics.” Physica A 395 (Feb): 48–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2013.10.046.
Ling, Y., K. Wang, W. Li, G. Shi, and P. Lu. 2019. “Effect of slag on the mechanical properties and bond strength of fly ash-based engineered geopolymer composites.” Composites, Part B 164 (May): 747–757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.01.092.
Liu, J., S. Zhang, and F. Wagner. 2018. “Exploring the driving forces of energy consumption and environmental pollution in China’s cement industry at the provincial level.” J. Cleaner Prod. 184 (20): 274–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.277.
Longhi, M. A., E. D. Rodriguez, B. Walkley, Z. Zhang, and A. P. Kirchheim. 2020. “Metakaolin-based geopolymers: Relation between formulation, physicochemical properties and efflorescence formation.” Composites, Part B 182 (Feb): 107671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.107671.
Lyu, B. C., C. Ding, L. P. Guo, B. Chen, and A. G. Wang. 2021. “Basic performances and potential research problems of strain hardening geopolymer composites: A critical review.” Constr. Build. Mater. 287 (Jun): 123030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123030.
Morsy, M. S., S. H. Alsayed, Y. Al-Salloum, and T. Almusallam. 2014. “Effect of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratios on strength and microstructure of fly ash geopolymer binder.” Arab. J. Sci. Eng. 39 (6): 4333–4339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1093-8.
Nadoushan, M. J., and A. A. Ramezanianpour. 2016. “The effect of type and concentration of activators on flowability and compressive strength of natural pozzolan and slag-based geopolymers.” Constr. Build. Mater. 111 (May): 337–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.02.086.
Nagalia, G., Y. Park, A. Abolmaali, and P. Aswath. 2016. “Compressive strength and microstructural properties of fly ash–based geopolymer concrete.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 28 (12): 04016144. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001656.
Nematollahi, B., J. Sanjayan, and F. U. Ahmed Shaikh. 2015. “Tensile strain hardening behavior of PVA fiber-reinforced engineered geopolymer composite.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 27 (10): 04015001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001242.
Nematollahi, B., J. Sanjayan, and F. U. A. Shaikh. 2016. “Matrix design of strain hardening fiber reinforced engineered geopolymer composite.” Composites, Part B 89 (Mar): 253–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.11.039.
Nguyễn, H. H., Q. H. Lương, J. I. Choi, R. Ranade, V. C. Li, and B. Y. Lee. 2021. “Ultra-ductile behavior of fly ash-based engineered geopolymer composites with a tensile strain capacity up to 13.7%.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 122 (Jun): 104133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2021.104133.
Ohno, M., and V. C. Li. 2014. “A feasibility study of strain hardening fiber reinforced fly ash-based geopolymer composites.” Constr. Build. Mater. 57 (Apr): 163–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.02.005.
Ohno, M., and V. C. Li. 2018. “An integrated design method of engineered geopolymer composite.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 88 (Apr): 73–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2018.02.001.
Pan, J., J. Cai, H. Ma, and C. K. Leung. 2018. “Development of multiscale fiber-reinforced engineered cementitious composites with PVA fiber and whisker.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 30 (6): 04018106. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002305.
Pan, Z., J. G. Sanjayan, and B. V. Rangan. 2011. “Fracture properties of geopolymer paste and concrete.” Mag. Concr. Res. 63 (10): 763–771. https://doi.org/10.1680/macr.2011.63.10.763.
Perná, I., and T. Hanzlíček. 2016. “The setting time of a clay-slag geopolymer matrix: The influence of blast-furnace-slag addition and the mixing method.” J. Cleaner Prod. 112 (1): 1150–1155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.05.069.
Rovnaník, P. 2010. “Effect of curing temperature on the development of hard structure of metakaolin-based geopolymer.” Constr. Build. Mater. 24 (7): 1176–1183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.12.023.
Subramaniaprasad, C. K., B. M. Abraham, and E. K. Kunhanandan. 2015. “Influence of embedded waste-plastic fibers on the improvement of the tensile strength of stabilized mud masonry blocks.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 27 (7): 04014203. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001165.
Suryanto, B., R. Reynaud, and B. Cockburn. 2018. “Sectional analysis of engineered cementitious composite beams.” Mag. Concr. Res. 70 (22): 1135–1148. https://doi.org/10.1680/jmacr.17.00199.
Turner, L. K., and F. G. Collins. 2013. “Carbon dioxide equivalent () emissions: A comparison between geopolymer and OPC cement concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 43 (Jun): 125–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.01.023.
Tuyan, M., Ö. Andiç-Çakir, and K. Ramyar. 2018. “Effect of alkali activator concentration and curing condition on strength and microstructure of waste clay brick powder-based geopolymer.” Composites, Part B 135 (Feb): 242–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.10.013.
Xia, M., and J. G. Sanjayan. 2018. “Methods of enhancing strength of geopolymer produced from powder-based 3D printing process.” Mater. Lett. 227 (Sep): 281–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2018.05.100.
Yin, K., A. Ahamed, and G. Lisak. 2018. “Environmental perspectives of recycling various combustion ashes in cement production—A review.” Waste Manage. 78 (Aug): 401–416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.06.012.
Yu, K., Y. Wang, J. Yu, and S. Xu. 2017. “A strain-hardening cementitious composites with the tensile capacity up to 8%.” Constr. Build. Mater. 137 (Apr): 410–419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.01.060.
Zahid, M., N. Shafiq, S. N. A. Razak, and R. F. Tufail. 2020. “Investigating the effects of NaOH molarity and the geometry of PVA fibers on the post-cracking and the fracture behavior of engineered geopolymer composite.” Constr. Build. Mater. 265 (Dec): 120295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120295.
Zhao, Y., J. Qiu, J. Xing, and X. Sun. 2020. “Recycling of quarry dust for supplementary cementitious materials in low carbon cement.” Constr. Build. Mater. 237 (20): 117608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117608.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 34 • Issue 7 • July 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 23, 2021
Accepted: Nov 24, 2021
Published online: Apr 28, 2022
Published in print: Jul 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Sep 28, 2022
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Jingming Cai, Boyin Ding, Yujin Yuan, Xi Luo, Jiaming Gu, Neven Ukrainczyk, Jinlong Pan, Development of High-Performance Sticky Rice–Lime Composite with Metakaolin and Hemp Fibers, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-16476, 36, 5, (2024).
- Chi Chiu Lam, Jiaming Gu, Xiaoyi Wang, Jingming Cai, Tensile Behaviors of Textile Grid–Reinforced Engineered Geopolymer Composites, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-14886, 35, 8, (2023).
- Jian-Cong Lao, Bo-Tao Huang, Yi Fang, Ling-Yu Xu, Jian-Guo Dai, Surendra P. Shah, Strain-hardening alkali-activated fly ash/slag composites with ultra-high compressive strength and ultra-high tensile ductility, Cement and Concrete Research, 10.1016/j.cemconres.2022.107075, 165, (107075), (2023).
- Zongping Chen, Yuhan Liang, Yuanzheng Lin, Jingming Cai, Recycling of waste tire rubber as aggregate in impact-resistant engineered cementitious composites, Construction and Building Materials, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.129477, 359, (129477), (2022).