Effect of Quarry Rock Dust as a Binder on the Properties of Fly Ash and Slag-Based Geopolymer Concrete Exposed to Ambient and Elevated Temperatures

This study presents the performance of quarry rock dust (QRD) incorporated fly ash (FA) and slag (SG) based geopolymer concretes (QFS-GPC) exposed to ambient and elevated temperatures. A total of five QFS-GPC mix types were prepared. The quantity of FA (50%) was kept constant in all the mixes, and SG was replaced by 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of QRD. The fresh, hardened properties of the QFS-GPC mixes, viz., workability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strengths, and XRD for identification of reaction phases were evaluated. The prepared mixes were also heated up to 800 & DEG;C to evaluate the residual compressive strength and weight loss. The workability of the QFS-GPC mixes was observed to be reduced by increasing the dosage (0 to 20%) of QRD. Superplasticizer (SP) was used to maintain the medium standard of workability. The compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths were increased by replacing SG with QRD up to 15%, whereas a further higher dosage (20%) of QRD reduced the mechanical strengths of the QFS-GPC mixes. The strength of the QFS-GPC specimens, heated to elevated temperatures up to 800 degrees C, was reduced persistently with the increased contents of QRD from 0 to 20%. It was concluded from the study that QFS-GPC can be used to achieve 30 MPa strength of concrete.

Automated summary

This study investigated the performance of geopolymer concretes incorporating quarry rock dust, fly ash, and slag at different proportions, finding that an increase in quarry rock dust content can reduce workability but improve compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths within a certain range of dosage. Under elevated temperatures, the strength of QFS-GPC decreased with higher quarry rock dust content.