Strength and durability properties of geopolymer concrete made with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Black Rice Husk Ash

This paper presents an experimental study on the strength and durability properties of Geopolymer concrete prepared using Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and Black Rice Husk Ash (BRHA). The Geopolymer concrete was prepared with GGBS as the primary binder instead of cement and BRHA was replaced with GGBS at various proportions such as 10%, 20% and 30%. The effect of curing temperature on the compressive strength of Geopolymer concrete was studied in addition to the flexural and split tensile strengths. Studies on the durability performance under Sorptivity, Rapid Chloride Permeability Test and Accelerated corrosion were also made. The test results show that the strength of Geopolymer concrete increases with increase in curing temperature. Addition of BRHA in Geopolymer concrete beyond 10% retards the strength development yet the strengths are well above the target for up to 20% replacement levels. At the same time, addition of BRHA significantly improves the durability with reduced sorptivity and chloride permeability when compared to the control concrete. Higher corrosion initiation and delayed cracking time were observed up to 20% BRHA replacement in Geopolymer concrete.