| Summary: | This research investigates the effectiveness of geopolymer concrete incorporating fly ash in environments rich in chlorides; in contrast to conventional Portland cement concrete (OPC). The study emphasizes essential characteristics such as workability, mechanical strength, capillary water absorption, open porosity, and chloride migration. The experiments demonstrated that geopolymer concrete exhibits a 30% enhancement in slump values, reflecting improved workability, and its compressive strength rose by 14.90–23.94% when compared with OPC. A significant reduction in binder content led to a notable decrease in capillary water absorption, highlighting a positive impact on long-term durability. With time, geopolymer concrete showed a reduction in open porosity and chloride migration coefficient, indicating better resistance to chloride penetration in marine settings. Although these outcomes underscore the potential of geopolymer concrete to improve structural durability, especially in marine infrastructure, additional optimization is required to tackle its relatively higher capillary water absorption and chloride migration during the initial stages. These results contribute to the ongoing investigation of sustainable building materials, offering valuable insights into geopolymer concrete’s ability to endure severe chloride exposure and serve as a durable solution for corrosion management in marine infrastructure. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shiraz University 2024.
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