Use of fly-ash geopolymer incorporating ground granulated slag for stabilization of kaolin clay cured at ambient temperature

This paper focuses on stabilisation of kaolin clay at ambient temperature using fly-ash based geopolymer incorporating ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS). Comprehensive experimental programme was conducted including soil plasticity, compaction, unconfined compressive strength, durability a...

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Main Authors: Abdullah, H., Shahin, Mohamed, Sarker, Prabir
Format: Journal Article
Published: Spinger 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/70256
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author Abdullah, H.
Shahin, Mohamed
Sarker, Prabir
author_facet Abdullah, H.
Shahin, Mohamed
Sarker, Prabir
author_sort Abdullah, H.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This paper focuses on stabilisation of kaolin clay at ambient temperature using fly-ash based geopolymer incorporating ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS). Comprehensive experimental programme was conducted including soil plasticity, compaction, unconfined compressive strength, durability and leaching. These tests were followed by a microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. An optimisation study using several combinations of geopolymer ingredients was performed, and the role of GGBFS in enhancing the geopolymer-stabilised clay was evaluated. The results indicated that introducing partial replacement of class (F) fly-ash by GGBFS assists, when synthesised in certain ratios, in achieving strength properties of geopolymer-stabilised clay comparable to those of cement stabilised clay. Although a small percentage of geopolymer can improve the soil strength, a larger amount was essential to enhance the wetting–drying durability performance. Under freezing–thawing conditions, low durability performance was detected indicating retardation in the geopolymer reaction at low temperature. For simulated water infiltration, leaching of the activator from geopolymer-stabilised clay was a minor concern in relation to the gel formation and long-term strength gain. Finally, SEM results clearly demonstrated a clay fabric modification attributed to the inter-particle contacts and the corresponding bonding due to the gel formation and hardening.
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format Journal Article
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T10:44:41Z
publishDate 2018
publisher Spinger
recordtype eprints
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-702562019-07-24T00:24:43Z Use of fly-ash geopolymer incorporating ground granulated slag for stabilization of kaolin clay cured at ambient temperature Abdullah, H. Shahin, Mohamed Sarker, Prabir This paper focuses on stabilisation of kaolin clay at ambient temperature using fly-ash based geopolymer incorporating ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS). Comprehensive experimental programme was conducted including soil plasticity, compaction, unconfined compressive strength, durability and leaching. These tests were followed by a microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. An optimisation study using several combinations of geopolymer ingredients was performed, and the role of GGBFS in enhancing the geopolymer-stabilised clay was evaluated. The results indicated that introducing partial replacement of class (F) fly-ash by GGBFS assists, when synthesised in certain ratios, in achieving strength properties of geopolymer-stabilised clay comparable to those of cement stabilised clay. Although a small percentage of geopolymer can improve the soil strength, a larger amount was essential to enhance the wetting–drying durability performance. Under freezing–thawing conditions, low durability performance was detected indicating retardation in the geopolymer reaction at low temperature. For simulated water infiltration, leaching of the activator from geopolymer-stabilised clay was a minor concern in relation to the gel formation and long-term strength gain. Finally, SEM results clearly demonstrated a clay fabric modification attributed to the inter-particle contacts and the corresponding bonding due to the gel formation and hardening. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/70256 10.1007/s10706-018-0644-2 Spinger fulltext
spellingShingle Abdullah, H.
Shahin, Mohamed
Sarker, Prabir
Use of fly-ash geopolymer incorporating ground granulated slag for stabilization of kaolin clay cured at ambient temperature
title Use of fly-ash geopolymer incorporating ground granulated slag for stabilization of kaolin clay cured at ambient temperature
title_full Use of fly-ash geopolymer incorporating ground granulated slag for stabilization of kaolin clay cured at ambient temperature
title_fullStr Use of fly-ash geopolymer incorporating ground granulated slag for stabilization of kaolin clay cured at ambient temperature
title_full_unstemmed Use of fly-ash geopolymer incorporating ground granulated slag for stabilization of kaolin clay cured at ambient temperature
title_short Use of fly-ash geopolymer incorporating ground granulated slag for stabilization of kaolin clay cured at ambient temperature
title_sort use of fly-ash geopolymer incorporating ground granulated slag for stabilization of kaolin clay cured at ambient temperature
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/70256