Study of Shrinkage Compensation and Feasibility of Engineering Applications of Geopolymer Concrete

In recent years, there has been unprecedented development of marine engineering construction in China. One such development has been the introduction of geopolymer (GP) concrete, which differs from portland cement in terms of durability and corrosion resistance in marine environments, and is also a low-carbon construction material. This study developed a low-shrinkage modified GP (MGP) concrete and researched its potential engineering applications . The research prototype was the Xigang seawall in the Guangdong Province of China. The effects of working performance, compressive strength, temperature rise, and strain of the concrete on the construction were assessed. The results showed that the autogenous shrinkage, chemical shrinkage, and drying shrinkage of the MGP paste were significantly lower than those of conventional GP concrete. The mechanism of shrinkage compensation of the MGP paste was discussed from the viewpoint of mesostructure and thermodynamics. The MGP concrete demonstrated smaller temperature rise and less difference between the internal and external temperatures than did portland cement concrete. Therefore, it featured a lower risk of cracking and was found to be more suitable than portland cement concrete for the rapid construction of seawalls.

Automated summary

In recent years, there has been significant development in marine engineering construction in China. This study focused on the development of low-shrinkage modified geopolymer (MGP) concrete and its potential applications in construction. The study evaluated the performance and effects of MGP concrete in the construction of the Xigang seawall in Guangdong Province, China. The results showed that MGP concrete had lower shrinkage, temperature rise, and risk of cracking compared to conventional geopolymer and portland cement concrete, making it suitable for rapid seawall construction.