Experimental investigation of mix design for high-strength alkali-activated slag concrete

Alkali-activated slag concrete is attracting increasing attention because of its potential as an alternative to Portland cement concrete, and it has been studied in several countries. The development of high strength alkali-activated Portland-cement-free concrete, made with ground granulated blast furnace slag and sodium silicate solution as the binder, is proposed. The Institute for Technological Research/ Polytechnic School of the University of S & atilde;o Paulo (IPT/EPUSP) mix design method, which has never been used before for production of this type of concrete, is employed. Tests of compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity were carried out at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days. In addition, static modulus of elasticity and splitting tensile strength tests were performed at 28 days. The results showed that high strength alkali-activated slag concrete (HSAASC) developed high initial and final compressive strengths. The compressive strengths of the concretes ranged from 41 to 58 MPa and from 86 to 105 MPa at 1 and 28 days, respectively. The IPT/EPUSP mix design method proved to be a suitable methodology that can be followed for the efficient production of HSAASC. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.