Improving the structural behavior of hollow core slabs using self-compacting geopolymer concrete with steel fiber

In recent times, concrete technology has been regarded as one of the most viable suggestions for recycling of industrial wastes such as Fly Ash (FA) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnaces Slag (GGBFS). One such development is the use of Self Compacting Geopolymer Concrete (SCGC) whereby the scientific researchers have used some types of solid wastes to improve the performance of concrete. This research involves the study of SCGC and hollow reinforced unit slabs. The thesis consisted of two stages. The first part reports the impact of GGBFS content on the fresh and hardening properties of primarily FA based SCGC. The SCGC mix was formulated with a constant binder content of 500 kg/m3 and at an alkaline-to-binder (a/b) ratio of 0.50. The FA were substituted with GGBFS with various replacement percentages by weight. The second stage includes testing and studying the structural performance of a number of steel fiber reinforced hollow core geopolymer concrete slabs. Twenty-one slabs, which have the same dimensions of 1000x350x125 mm, were cast. These slabs were divided into groups according to steel fiber contents, and each group there were three panels; Solid (SO), Rectangular Hollow (RH) and Circular Hollow (CH). These parameters had the effect of providing variable characteristics of this concrete in terms of the failure modes exhibited, crack strength, ultimate strength, deflection and ductility index.