Abstract
Rubberized geopolymer concrete (RuGC) is a novel material that combines the environmental and durability benefits of geopolymer concrete (GC) with the flexibility and energy absorption capabilities of rubber aggregates. This hybrid material holds strong potential for structural applications where enhanced tensile strength and impact resistance are desirable. However, its mechanical performance under various loading conditions remains insufficiently explored. In this study, the mechanical behavior of RuGC was evaluated through an experimental program in which aggregates were partially replaced with rubber aggregates at replacement levels of 5%, 10%, and 15%. Experiments were conducted to assess compressive strength, tensile strength, and load-bearing capacity, while the influence of rubber content and curing conditions on mechanical performance was systematically examined. The results indicate that incorporating 10% fine crumb rubber and 5% coarse crumb rubber caused only a marginal reduction in mechanical properties while maintaining satisfactory structural behaviour. These findings highlight RuGC as a promising construction material capable of reducing both rubber waste and the carbon footprint associated with traditional concrete production.
Key Words
coarse aggregate; fine aggregate; fly ash; GGBS; rubber crumbs; rubberized geopolymer concrete
Address
Suman Saha: Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur, 713209, West Bengal, India
Najeeb Manhanpally, Praveen Nagarajan, P. Hridya: Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kozhikode, 673601, Kerala, India
Abstract
To improve the performance and sustainability of cement mortar, this study investigates the effects of incorporating graphene oxide (GO) and metakaolin (MK) on the mechanical properties, durability performance, and microstructure of cement mortar. Among the investigated mixtures, the mortar containing 0.02 wt% GO and 3 wt% MK exhibited the best mechanical properties and durability performance. Compared with the reference mortar, the 28 d compressive and flexural strengths increased by 31.3% and 24.7%, respectively. Improvements were also observed in durability performance, including reduced water absorption, enhanced water penetration resistance, reduced drying shrinkage, and improved resistance to sulfate-induced strength deterioration. Microstructural characterization results suggested that GO may facilitate hydration product formation through nucleation effects, whereas MK consumed calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) through pozzolanic reactions and contributed to the formation of additional hydration products. The incorporation of GO and MK refined the pore-size distribution and contributed to the densification of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), thereby enhancing the mechanical properties and durability performance. These results indicate that low-dose GO combined with MK has potential for improving the mechanical properties and durability performance of cement mortar.
Address
Zhuoyu Chen: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Yunping Xu: China Resources Land Limited (Chongqing), Chongqing 400050, China
Changjiang Liu: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering and Applied Technology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Weihua Ye, Xiaofeng Li, Shaokun Jiang, Junjie Wen, Jingxin Ren: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
