Durability of Low Calcium Fly Ash Geopolymer Concrete in Chloride Solution

Abstract

This paper describes a durability study of low calcium fly ash geopolymer concrete under an accelerated wetting drying testing. The main parameters were aggregate content, alkaline/fly ash ratio, ratio of sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide and curing conditions. The accelerated test method was carried out by subjecting the geopolymer concrete to repeated cycles of chloride solution immersion and oven drying. The specimens were immersed in 6.54% chloride solution for 24 hours and were heated at 800C for 24 hours. Physical properties such as a change in mass and compressive strength were monitored. The results indicate that the geopolymer concrete has a good resistance on the accelerated wetting drying cycles. The compressive strength of the exposed concrete increased about 16-33% after the wet-dry cycl