Effect of nano-silica on cement and geopolymer mixtures for grouting

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of nano-silica on cement and geopolymer based grouts. The rheological, fresh, and hardened properties of the grout mixtures in the experimental study were examined. As rheological properties, shear stress, viscosity, yield stress, and plastic viscosity values were investigated. In the study on fresh and hardened properties, the w/b ratio was taken as only 1. Fresh properties; mini-slump, the Marsh funnel viscosity, bleeding, and setting time tests were used, and finally, the compressive strength test was performed on hardened properties. In addition, in the thesis study, the w/b ratio was determined as 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50 and the nano-silica ratio was 0%, 0.5%, 1.00%, 1.50%, 2.00% and 2.50% as the experimental program. Portland cement and nano-silica are used for cement-based grout, while fly ash and nano-silica are used for geopolymer-based grout. When the experimental results were examined, it was observed that nano-silica had a significant effect on grout mixtures. Moreover, geopolymer based grouts can be used as an alternative to cement-based grout. The use of nano-silica in grout materials used for grouting, which is one of the soil improvement methods, can provide effective benefits.