The Durability Behaviour of a Ferrocement Slab Utilizing Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Nano Silica

Abstract

The fundamental purpose of this research is to evaluate the durability qualities of the geopolymer-based ferrocement slab element and analyze the ideal combination, as well as to determine if geopolymer mortar can be utilized in structural components instead of cement mortar and to improve properties. The compressive strength and durability properties of a Nano silica based geopolymer included ferrocement slab element experimentally studied in detail using Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) wound wire mesh at both room temperature curing and hot curing at 60 °C. Geopolymer is made here using fly ash. The geopolymer mortar for the cement slab is initially created using a 1:2 mortar ratio with the mix proposition of 65% fly ash, 25% sodium silicate, and 10% sodium hydroxide making up this binder. Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) was used to replace the weight of fly ash by 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. Although 100% GGBS in fly ash provided the best strength, the compressive test results indicate that 80% GGBS addition is optimal due to the early production of cracks. To improve performance, nano silica is added to the chosen combination in amounts of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% by weight of binder. Finally, superior combinations were established after testing the specimen's permeability, acid resistance, and heat resistance. The strength of the geopolymer mortar was improved by about 240% using 1.5% nano silica and 80% GGBS. The durability property of the geopolymer mortar was improved by about 90% using 1.5% nano silica and 60% GGBS.

Keywords

• carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP)
• durability
• ferrocement
• flyash
• geopolymer
• GGBS