Influences of Parameters on Slump Flow and Compressive Strength Properties of Aluminosilicate Based Flowable Geopolymer Concrete Using Taguchi Method

In this study, the influences of factors and their levels on flowable geopolymer concrete had been examined using Taguchi method. The factors like molarity of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) solution, percentage of coarse aggregate (CA %), Solution to binder (S/B) ratio and percentage of superplasticizer and each factor varies with three levels as 1.5 M, 1.75 M, 2 M; 40%, 50%, 60%; 0.5, 0.55, 0.6; 0%, 1%, 2% was considered. A total of 9 mixes has been considered as per Taguchi method (L9). It can be observed from the test results that, among the nine Taguchi mixes, the mix T4 is containing 1.75 M of Na2SiO3 solution; 60% of coarse aggregate; solution to binder ratio of 0.6; superplasticizer of 2% had achieved highest slump flow of 650 mm; compressive strength of 29.8 MPa at 28 days and other side the mix T5 is containing 1.75 M of Na2SiO3 solution; 50% of coarse aggregate; solution to binder ratio of 0.5; superplasticizer of 0% had achieved slump flow of 340 mm; compressive strength 47.9 MPa at 28 days. The molarity of the solution is same in the both mixes as 1.75 M. It can be seen that; the mixes are highly influenced by the solution to binder ratio and superplasticizer. Increase in solution to binder ratio and superplasticizer results in increase in slump flow and decrease in strength properties. Therefore, Taguchi analysis is carried out to understand the influences of factors and their levels using Minitab17 software. The optimum level of each factor had been considered in terms of flow and strength properties. Hence, the optimum mix T10 proposed by Taguchi is 1.75 M of sodium silicate solution, 50% of coarse aggregate, S/B ratio of 0.55 and superplasticizer dosage of 1% had achieved 575 mm flow and compressive strength of 52.81 MPa. However, the mix T10 had achieved 11.38% less flow as compared to mix T4 and increase in compressive strength of 10% as compared to T5. Therefore, the comparative study had been carried out between T4, T5 and T10 to determine the optimum mix.