Determining engineering properties of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete modified with different waste materials

Fadi Althoey; Osama Zaid; Saleh Alsulamy; Rebeca Martínez-García; Jesús de Prado Gil; Mohamed M Arbili

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0285692

Determining engineering properties of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete modified with different waste materials

PLoS One. 2023 May 22;18(5):e0285692. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285692. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Fadi Althoey^{1

2}, Osama Zaid³, Saleh Alsulamy⁴, Rebeca Martínez-García⁵, Jesús de Prado Gil⁵, Mohamed M Arbili⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
² Science and Engineering Research Center, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Civil Engineering, Swedish College of Engineering and Technology, Wah Cantt, Punjab, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Architecture and Planning, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Mining Technology, Topography, and Structures, University of León, León, Spain.
⁶ Department of Technical Civil Engineering, Erbil Technical Engineering College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Iraq.

Abstract

Reprocessing solid waste materials is a low-cost method of preserving the environment, conserving natural resources, and reducing raw material consumption. Developing ultra-high-performance concrete materials requires an immense quantity of natural raw materials. The current study seeks to tackle this issue by evaluating the effect of various discarded materials, waste glass (GW), marble waste (MW), and waste rubber powder (WRP) as a partial replacement of fine aggregates on the engineering properties of sustainable ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete (UHPGPC). Ten different mixtures were developed as a partial substitute for fine aggregate, each containing 2% double-hooked end steel fibers, 5%, 10%, and 15% GW, MW, and WRP. The present study assessed the fresh, mechanical, and durability properties of UHPGPC. In addition, to evaluate concrete development at the microscopic level due to the addition of GW, MW, and WRP. Spectra of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and mercury intrusion (MIP) tests were conducted. The test results were compared to current trends and procedures identified in the literature. According to the study, adding 15% marble waste and 15% waste rubber powder reduced ultra-high-performance geopolymer concrete's strength, durability, and microstructure properties. Even so, adding glass waste improved the properties, as the sample with 15% GW had the highest compressive strength of 179 MPa after 90 days. Furthermore, incorporating glass waste into the UHPGPC resulted in a good reaction between the geopolymerization gel and the waste glass particles, enhancing strength properties and a packed microstructure. The inclusion of glass waste in the mix resulted in the control of crystal-shaped humps of quartz and calcite, according to XRD spectra. During the TGA analysis, the UHPGPC with 15% glass waste had the minimum weight loss (5.64%) compared to other modified samples.

Copyright: © 2023 Althoey et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

MeSH terms

Calcium Carbonate
Compressive Strength
Powders
Rubber*
Solid Waste*

Substances

Powders
Rubber
Solid Waste
Calcium Carbonate

Grants and funding

The authors are thankful to the Deanship of Scientific Research under the supervision of the Science and Engineering Research Center at Najran University for funding this work under the research centers funding program with Grant No. (NU/RCP/SERC/12/17). The authors also extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through Small Groups Project under Grant No. RGP.1/116/43.