Mechanical properties of one-part alkali-activated slag concrete reinforced with low-dosage synthetic fibers

The Portland cement industry annually emits approximately ۵-۸% of the total global carbon dioxideand accounts for ۱۰-۱۵% of energy consumption in the industry. Alkali-activated binders can be a suitablealternative to Portland cement with a ۵۰-۸۰% reduction in CO۲ emissions. Alkali-activated binders areproduced in two forms, one-part and two-part. Using two-part alkali-activated binders is limited in theconstruction industry due to dangerous alkaline materials such as sodium hydroxide. Therefore, the researchon one-part alkali-activated binders has been expanded. Increasing cracks caused by shrinkage is one of theproblems of alkali-activated slag concrete compared to ordinary Portland cement concrete, which can havea destructive effect on concrete's mechanical properties and durability. By adding fibers, it is possible toreduce the amount of these cracks and prevent their growth; therefore, in this research, to improve themechanical properties of alkali-activated slag concrete, polypropylene fibers have been used in two-volumepercentages of ۰.۱۵ and ۰.۳۰. To achieve the objectives of this research, mechanical properties such ascompressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength have been investigated and compared with theresults of control samples. The results indicate tensile and flexural strength improvement in fiber-reinforcedalkali-activated slag concrete.

Keywords:

One-part alkali-activated slag concrete , Synthetic fiber , Mechanical properties , Compressive strength , Tensile strength , Flexural strength.