Fire-Exposed Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete: Effects of Burning Temperature on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties

Geopolymer concrete possesses superior fire resistance compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concrete; however, there are concerns regarding its vulnerability when exposed to real fire events. In the present study, the fire resistance of fly-ash-based geopolymer concrete was evaluated rel...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Siti Nooriza Abd Razak, Nasir Shafiq, Laurent Guillaumat, Syed Ahmad Farhan, Vicky Kumar Lohana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/5/1884
_version_ 1797474593763491840
author Siti Nooriza Abd Razak
Nasir Shafiq
Laurent Guillaumat
Syed Ahmad Farhan
Vicky Kumar Lohana
author_facet Siti Nooriza Abd Razak
Nasir Shafiq
Laurent Guillaumat
Syed Ahmad Farhan
Vicky Kumar Lohana
author_sort Siti Nooriza Abd Razak
collection DOAJ
description Geopolymer concrete possesses superior fire resistance compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concrete; however, there are concerns regarding its vulnerability when exposed to real fire events. In the present study, the fire resistance of fly-ash-based geopolymer concrete was evaluated relative to that of OPC-based concrete. Concrete specimens of standard strength grades of 20, 40, and 60 MPa were exposed to fire at 500 and 1200 °C for 2 h to simulate real fire events. Visual observation was performed, mass loss and residual compressive strength were measured, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were conducted. OPC-based concrete suffered major cracks accompanied with spalling for the high-strength specimen, while geopolymer concrete experienced minor cracks with no spalling. Mass losses of the geopolymer concrete—of 1.69% and 4%, after the exposure to fire at 500 and 1200 °C, respectively—were lower than those of the OPC-based concrete. More than 50% of the residual compressive strength for low- and medium-strength geopolymer concrete, after the exposure to fire at 1200 °C, was maintained. After the exposure to fire at 500 °C, the residual compressive strength of the geopolymer concrete increased from 13 to 45%, while the OPC-based concrete was not able to sustain its compressive strength. SEM images showed that the matrix of the geopolymer concrete, after the exposure to fire, was denser than that of the OPC-based concrete, while the FTIR spectra of the geopolymer concrete showed a minor shift in wavelength. Hence, our findings indicate that fly-ash-based geopolymer concrete has an excellent fire resistance as compared to OPC-based concrete.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T20:32:22Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ae5de39867c6403e9114933d6aaf7868
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1996-1944
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T20:32:22Z
publishDate 2022-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Materials
spelling doaj.art-ae5de39867c6403e9114933d6aaf78682023-11-23T23:20:21ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-03-01155188410.3390/ma15051884Fire-Exposed Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete: Effects of Burning Temperature on Mechanical and Microstructural PropertiesSiti Nooriza Abd Razak0Nasir Shafiq1Laurent Guillaumat2Syed Ahmad Farhan3Vicky Kumar Lohana4Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, MalaysiaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, MalaysiaLaboratoire Angevin de Mécanique, Procédés et Innovation, École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers, 49035 Angers, FranceInstitute of Self-Sustainable Building for Smart Living, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, MalaysiaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, MalaysiaGeopolymer concrete possesses superior fire resistance compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concrete; however, there are concerns regarding its vulnerability when exposed to real fire events. In the present study, the fire resistance of fly-ash-based geopolymer concrete was evaluated relative to that of OPC-based concrete. Concrete specimens of standard strength grades of 20, 40, and 60 MPa were exposed to fire at 500 and 1200 °C for 2 h to simulate real fire events. Visual observation was performed, mass loss and residual compressive strength were measured, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were conducted. OPC-based concrete suffered major cracks accompanied with spalling for the high-strength specimen, while geopolymer concrete experienced minor cracks with no spalling. Mass losses of the geopolymer concrete—of 1.69% and 4%, after the exposure to fire at 500 and 1200 °C, respectively—were lower than those of the OPC-based concrete. More than 50% of the residual compressive strength for low- and medium-strength geopolymer concrete, after the exposure to fire at 1200 °C, was maintained. After the exposure to fire at 500 °C, the residual compressive strength of the geopolymer concrete increased from 13 to 45%, while the OPC-based concrete was not able to sustain its compressive strength. SEM images showed that the matrix of the geopolymer concrete, after the exposure to fire, was denser than that of the OPC-based concrete, while the FTIR spectra of the geopolymer concrete showed a minor shift in wavelength. Hence, our findings indicate that fly-ash-based geopolymer concrete has an excellent fire resistance as compared to OPC-based concrete.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/5/1884compressive strengthfire resistancefly ashFourier-transform infrared spectroscopygeopolymer concretemass loss
spellingShingle Siti Nooriza Abd Razak
Nasir Shafiq
Laurent Guillaumat
Syed Ahmad Farhan
Vicky Kumar Lohana
Fire-Exposed Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete: Effects of Burning Temperature on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties
Materials
compressive strength
fire resistance
fly ash
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
geopolymer concrete
mass loss
title Fire-Exposed Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete: Effects of Burning Temperature on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties
title_full Fire-Exposed Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete: Effects of Burning Temperature on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties
title_fullStr Fire-Exposed Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete: Effects of Burning Temperature on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties
title_full_unstemmed Fire-Exposed Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete: Effects of Burning Temperature on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties
title_short Fire-Exposed Fly-Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete: Effects of Burning Temperature on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties
title_sort fire exposed fly ash based geopolymer concrete effects of burning temperature on mechanical and microstructural properties
topic compressive strength
fire resistance
fly ash
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
geopolymer concrete
mass loss
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/5/1884
work_keys_str_mv AT sitinoorizaabdrazak fireexposedflyashbasedgeopolymerconcreteeffectsofburningtemperatureonmechanicalandmicrostructuralproperties
AT nasirshafiq fireexposedflyashbasedgeopolymerconcreteeffectsofburningtemperatureonmechanicalandmicrostructuralproperties
AT laurentguillaumat fireexposedflyashbasedgeopolymerconcreteeffectsofburningtemperatureonmechanicalandmicrostructuralproperties
AT syedahmadfarhan fireexposedflyashbasedgeopolymerconcreteeffectsofburningtemperatureonmechanicalandmicrostructuralproperties
AT vickykumarlohana fireexposedflyashbasedgeopolymerconcreteeffectsofburningtemperatureonmechanicalandmicrostructuralproperties