Mechanical Performance of Slag-Based HPFRGC with Varying Silica Fume Replacement and Fiber Types

Document Type : Regular Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Civil Engineering, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran

2 Professor, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

As Portland cement production greatly affects the environment, more focus is being placed on using geopolymer concrete (GPC) as an alternative. This study explores the mechanical performance of high-performance fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete (HPFRGC) using slag-based binders partially replaced with silica fume at levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. The effects of incorporating steel and glass fibers at 0.5% and 1% volume fractions on compressive and splitting tensile strengths were also evaluated at 7 and 28 days. Results indicate that 5–10% silica fume replacement enhances compressive and tensile strength, with 10% being optimal. Excessive replacement (15%) reduced strength due to dilution of reactive content. Steel fibers were more effective than glass fibers, particularly at 1% content, yielding up to 12.7% and 38.6% improvements in compressive and tensile strengths, respectively. Moderate benefits were seen from using glass fibers, mainly in tensile performance. Failure pattern analysis showed that fiber-free specimens experienced brittle fractures, while fiber-reinforced mixes exhibited improved crack control and ductility. Overall, the combined use of 10% silica fume and 1% steel fiber offers the best enhancement in mechanical performance, suggesting an effective approach for developing sustainable, high-performance geopolymer concretes.

Highlights

  • Mechanochemically activated slag-based high-performance fibre-reinforced geopolymer concrete (HPFRGC) was developed.
  • The effect of silica fume as a partial replacement for slag on the mechanical properties of HPFRGC was investigated.
  • A comparative study on the performance of steel and glass fibres in HPFRGC was conducted.
  • Failure modes under compressive and tensile loading were evaluated to understand the role of fibre type and content.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 28 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 10 June 2025

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