Properties of fly ash-metakaolin-based geopolymer concrete by inclusion steel fibers

• Published in: Recent Developments of Geopolymer Materials: Processing and Characterisations
• Main Author: Faris M.A.; Al Bakri Abdullah M.M.; Mohd Tahir M.F.; Hashim M.F.A.; Zailani W.W.A.
• Format: Book chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85209019662&doi=10.1016%2fB978-0-443-24068-3.00009-1&partnerID=40&md5=cdcd8f1e3600a64d323180e0b0baf3a0

The purpose of this chapter is to produce fly ash/metakaolin-based geopolymer concrete reinforced with steel fibers and investigate the ideal volume percentage of steel fibers in fly ash/metakaolin-based geopolymer concrete. Geopolymer concrete suffers from numerous drawbacks such as brittleness and low durability. Thus it is crucial to study the addition of steel fibers into the fly ash/metakaolin-based geopolymer concrete to improve the physical and mechanical behavior. Sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide were used to activate the source material. The ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide will be presented. The ratio of fly ash/metakaolin to activator solution is discussed in this chapter. Fly ash/metakaolin is the raw material of a geopolymer. The chemical composition of fly ash and metakaolin was characterized by using X-ray fluorescence. The different volumes of steel fibers are used for investigation and comparison by their physical and mechanical behavior. The different volume percentages of steel fibers in addition to the geopolymer concrete will be discussed. Physical properties of steel fibers reinforced geopolymer concrete were assessed by slump test, density test, and water absorption test, while mechanical properties were assessed by compressive strength test and flexural strength test. Test results revealed that steel fibers reinforced geopolymer concrete provided superior physical and mechanical characteristics than geopolymer concrete. Therefore specific volume percentages of steel fibers provided the ideal properties of steel fibers reinforced geopolymer concrete. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.