Enhancing sustainability: Mix design, mechanical properties and durability of alkali-activated slag-dolomite concrete modified with crumb rubber

In the past two decades, geopolymer concrete or GPC was developed as an ecologically friendly substitute to cement concrete, presenting the opportunity to reduce the substantial CO2 emissions linked to cement manufacturing. The present work attempts to evaluate the design of mixes, mechanical qualit...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Arjun Raj P.K., Praveen Nagarajan, A.P. Shashikala, Thandiwe Sithole, Blessen Skariah Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Case Studies in Construction Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525004930
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850192665534005248
author Arjun Raj P.K.
Praveen Nagarajan
A.P. Shashikala
Thandiwe Sithole
Blessen Skariah Thomas
author_facet Arjun Raj P.K.
Praveen Nagarajan
A.P. Shashikala
Thandiwe Sithole
Blessen Skariah Thomas
author_sort Arjun Raj P.K.
collection DOAJ
description In the past two decades, geopolymer concrete or GPC was developed as an ecologically friendly substitute to cement concrete, presenting the opportunity to reduce the substantial CO2 emissions linked to cement manufacturing. The present work attempts to evaluate the design of mixes, mechanical qualities, and durability of Ground granulated blast furnace slag-dolomite rubberised geopolymer concrete (GDR-GPC). GGBS and dolomite powder were utilized as binders in geopolymer concrete, with GGBS facilitating ambient curing and dolomite aiding early strength attainment. NaOH and Na2SiO3 solutions were combined and used as the alkalis for the development of GPC. The study involves binary GPC mix design utilising the Taguchi approach to maximize compressive and impact strength. Subsequently, the fine aggregate portion of the optimized GPC is replaced by rubber particles. Crumb rubber (CR), generated through the ambient grinding process of discarded waste tyres, represents a potential source of environmental pollution. It is utilized as a substitution at volume percentages of 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20 % fine aggregates. The performance of the GDR-GPC is analysed according to its workability, dry unit weight, stress-strain behaviour, flexural strength, split tensile strength and impact strength. The formulated sustainable GDR-GPC mixes demonstrate acceptable hardened properties. The compressive strength ranges from 52.14 to 63.58 MPa when crumb rubber replaces fine aggregates in volumetric proportions between 20 % and 5 %. The impact energy and elastic modulus of the GDR-GPC mix with 20 % crumb rubber replacement are 2236 J and 15.41 GPa, respectively. This could create a substantial market for GDR-GPC products in applications that emphasize enhanced impact strength and flexibility, such as impact-resistant barriers and railway sleepers.
format Article
id doaj-art-9565b85c0ca1426ba5c1bdca3a0b551f
institution OA Journals
issn 2214-5095
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Case Studies in Construction Materials
spelling doaj-art-9565b85c0ca1426ba5c1bdca3a0b551f2025-08-20T02:14:27ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-07-0122e0469510.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04695Enhancing sustainability: Mix design, mechanical properties and durability of alkali-activated slag-dolomite concrete modified with crumb rubber Arjun Raj P.K.0Praveen Nagarajan1A.P. Shashikala2Thandiwe Sithole3Blessen Skariah Thomas4Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala 673601, India; Corresponding authors.Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala 673601, IndiaDepartment of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala 673601, IndiaUniversity of Johannesburg, Department of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2088, South Africa; Corresponding authors.Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala 673601, IndiaIn the past two decades, geopolymer concrete or GPC was developed as an ecologically friendly substitute to cement concrete, presenting the opportunity to reduce the substantial CO2 emissions linked to cement manufacturing. The present work attempts to evaluate the design of mixes, mechanical qualities, and durability of Ground granulated blast furnace slag-dolomite rubberised geopolymer concrete (GDR-GPC). GGBS and dolomite powder were utilized as binders in geopolymer concrete, with GGBS facilitating ambient curing and dolomite aiding early strength attainment. NaOH and Na2SiO3 solutions were combined and used as the alkalis for the development of GPC. The study involves binary GPC mix design utilising the Taguchi approach to maximize compressive and impact strength. Subsequently, the fine aggregate portion of the optimized GPC is replaced by rubber particles. Crumb rubber (CR), generated through the ambient grinding process of discarded waste tyres, represents a potential source of environmental pollution. It is utilized as a substitution at volume percentages of 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20 % fine aggregates. The performance of the GDR-GPC is analysed according to its workability, dry unit weight, stress-strain behaviour, flexural strength, split tensile strength and impact strength. The formulated sustainable GDR-GPC mixes demonstrate acceptable hardened properties. The compressive strength ranges from 52.14 to 63.58 MPa when crumb rubber replaces fine aggregates in volumetric proportions between 20 % and 5 %. The impact energy and elastic modulus of the GDR-GPC mix with 20 % crumb rubber replacement are 2236 J and 15.41 GPa, respectively. This could create a substantial market for GDR-GPC products in applications that emphasize enhanced impact strength and flexibility, such as impact-resistant barriers and railway sleepers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525004930Geopolymer concreteDolomiteGGD-GPCTaguchi methodGDR-GPC
spellingShingle Arjun Raj P.K.
Praveen Nagarajan
A.P. Shashikala
Thandiwe Sithole
Blessen Skariah Thomas
Enhancing sustainability: Mix design, mechanical properties and durability of alkali-activated slag-dolomite concrete modified with crumb rubber
Case Studies in Construction Materials
Geopolymer concrete
Dolomite
GGD-GPC
Taguchi method
GDR-GPC
title Enhancing sustainability: Mix design, mechanical properties and durability of alkali-activated slag-dolomite concrete modified with crumb rubber
title_full Enhancing sustainability: Mix design, mechanical properties and durability of alkali-activated slag-dolomite concrete modified with crumb rubber
title_fullStr Enhancing sustainability: Mix design, mechanical properties and durability of alkali-activated slag-dolomite concrete modified with crumb rubber
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing sustainability: Mix design, mechanical properties and durability of alkali-activated slag-dolomite concrete modified with crumb rubber
title_short Enhancing sustainability: Mix design, mechanical properties and durability of alkali-activated slag-dolomite concrete modified with crumb rubber
title_sort enhancing sustainability mix design mechanical properties and durability of alkali activated slag dolomite concrete modified with crumb rubber
topic Geopolymer concrete
Dolomite
GGD-GPC
Taguchi method
GDR-GPC
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525004930
work_keys_str_mv AT arjunrajpk enhancingsustainabilitymixdesignmechanicalpropertiesanddurabilityofalkaliactivatedslagdolomiteconcretemodifiedwithcrumbrubber
AT praveennagarajan enhancingsustainabilitymixdesignmechanicalpropertiesanddurabilityofalkaliactivatedslagdolomiteconcretemodifiedwithcrumbrubber
AT apshashikala enhancingsustainabilitymixdesignmechanicalpropertiesanddurabilityofalkaliactivatedslagdolomiteconcretemodifiedwithcrumbrubber
AT thandiwesithole enhancingsustainabilitymixdesignmechanicalpropertiesanddurabilityofalkaliactivatedslagdolomiteconcretemodifiedwithcrumbrubber
AT blessenskariahthomas enhancingsustainabilitymixdesignmechanicalpropertiesanddurabilityofalkaliactivatedslagdolomiteconcretemodifiedwithcrumbrubber