International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 07 | Jul 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
An Experimental Study on Fly Ash & GGBS Based Geo-Polymer Concrete incorporated with Steel Fibers Dr. P. Senthamilselvi 1, A. Aakash 2 1Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Government College of Engineering, Salem, Tamil Nadu,
India 2P.G. Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Government College of Engineering, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------promoting geopolymer concrete as a sustainable and highAbstract - This experimental study evaluates the mechanical performance material for structural applications.
and durability characteristics of Geopolymer Concrete (GPC) formulated with Fly Ash and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as binders. The study further investigates the enhancement provided by varying contents of steel fibers (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%). Mechanical performance was assessed through compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength tests at 7 and 28 days. Durability was evaluated using water absorption, acid and sulphate resistance, and sorptivity tests. Reinforced GPC beams (with and without fibers) were tested under two-point loading and validated using ANSYS finite element analysis. The results showed 0.75% steel fiber yielded the highest improvements in strength and durability, proving its potential in structural applications.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW Ganesan et al. (2014) – Influence of Steel Fibres on Tension Stiffening and Cracking of Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete This study investigated the behavior of geopolymer concrete (GPC) reinforced with varying volumes of crimped steel fibers and its effect on tension stiffening and cracking. The results showed that as fiber content increased, the tensile stiffness improved significantly, and crack widths and spacing reduced. The authors concluded that the inclusion of steel fibers greatly enhanced the ductility and post-crack performance of GPC, making it suitable for structural use. In the current study, a similar improvement in crack control and first crack load was observed in the fiber-reinforced beams, particularly at 0.75% fiber dosage, validating the findings of this research.
Key Words: Geopolymer Concrete, Fly Ash, GGBS, Steel Fiber, Compressive Strength, Durability, Flexural Strength, ANSYS, Ambient Curing
1. INTRODUCTION The rapid growth of infrastructure development has led to a massive increase in the production of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which is a major contributor to global CO₂ emissions. To overcome the environmental issues caused by cement production, geopolymer concrete (GPC) has emerged as a sustainable alternative. GPC utilizes industrial byproducts like fly ash and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as binders, activated by alkaline solutions, eliminating the need for traditional cement. Geopolymer concrete is known for its high early strength, low permeability, and excellent resistance to chemical attacks. However, like conventional concrete, it suffers from brittleness and low tensile strength. To address this, steel fibers are incorporated into the mix, which help improve ductility, crack resistance, and toughness. This study focuses on M30-grade geopolymer concrete with varying steel fiber contents (0% to 1%) under ambient curing conditions. Mechanical properties such as compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength were tested, along with durability tests like water absorption, acid resistance, sulphate resistance, and sorptivity. Reinforced geopolymer beams were also tested under flexural loading and validated through ANSYS finite element analysis. The aim is to identify the optimal fiber content that enhances both strength and durability,
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Rashad et al. (2020) – Effect of Steel Fibers on Geopolymer Properties This paper presents a comprehensive review of previous work on the influence of steel fibers on the mechanical and durability properties of geopolymer concrete. The study highlights that the addition of steel fibers results in higher compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths while also enhancing ductility, energy absorption, and toughness. The authors also noted that fiber content beyond a certain threshold (typically around 1%) may lead to workability issues or reduced performance. This directly supports the current research, where the optimum performance was recorded at 0.75% fiber content, while a slight reduction was seen at 1%, suggesting a balance is required between strength gain and workability. Almutairi et al. (2021) – Potential Applications of Geopolymer Concrete in Construction In this study, the environmental and practical benefits of geopolymer concrete were explored, with a focus on largescale applications. The authors emphasized the use of ambient curing as a practical alternative to heat curing,
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