Yes / Geopolymers have been recognised as a viable replacement to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), providing a cleaner solution since it can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as accomplishing effective waste recycling. Construction and demolition waste (CDW) has been recently identified as raw materials for geopolymers due to its availability and high contents of silica and alumina. This paper aimed at reviewing the current state-of-the-art on the geopolymer paste, mortar, and concrete production and their properties, with special attention paid to geopolymers incorporating CDWs. The review covers brief assessment of using CDWs in concrete, the mix design of geopolymer mixtures in addition to identification of the main factors influencing the performance of geopolymer containing CDW. The most recent data related to the mechanical and durability properties of CDW-based geopolymers are presented, while the cost and environmental impacts of using recycled materials in producing geopolymer concretes are also discussed. Geopolymer concretes have a vast range of possible applications, however, there are still several barriers facing commercialisation of geopolymers in construction industry. The review indicated that it is possible to produce geopolymer concretes from CDW-based materials with properties comparable to OPC-based ones; however, the selection of proper material composition should be carefully considered, especially under normal curing conditions.

Yes / The focus of the construction industry has shifted towards the development of al-ternative, eco-friendly and green construction materials due to the energy-inefficient and carbon-intensive nature of Portland cement (PC) production and aggregate quarrying. Meanwhile, increased number of repetitive re-pair/renovation/maintenance activities and demolition operations for the end-of-life buildings generate significant amounts of construction and demolition waste (CDW). For the purposes of sustainability and upcycling wastes into high-value-added materials with improved greenness, components from CDW streams can be used in producing geopolymer concretes without using PC and natural aggre-gates, given the rich aluminosiliceous nature of CDW components. The focus of current work is therefore on the analysis of durability of aspects (i.e., drying shrinkage and resistance against sulfate attack, cyclic freezing-thawing, and chlo-ride penetration) of geopolymer concretes made entirely of CDW. Different types of bricks, tile, concrete, and glass were used in mixed form as precursors for ge-opolymerization while different-size grains of waste concrete were used as recy-cled aggregates. As alkali activators, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and sodium silicate were used. In a companion mixture, CDW-based precursors were replaced with slag and class-F fly ash. Results showed that sulfate and cyclic freeze-thaw exposure did not cause any noticeable weight and compressive strength loss in CDW-based geopolymer concretes, while chloride penetration was found comparable to PC-based concrete. While drying shrinkage was found high in entirely CDW-based geopolymer concrete and resulted in surface mi-crocracks, it was possible to lower the drying shrinkage substantially via substi-tution of CDW-based precursors with fly ash and slag. / The authors also wish to thank the support of Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) of Turkey provided under projects: 218M102 and 117M447. / This paper is from the fib Symposium 2023, Building for the future: Durable, Sustainable, Resilient. 5-7 Jun, Istanbul, Turkey.

Concrete is by far the most widely used construction material worldwide in terms of volume, and so has a huge impact on the environment, with consequences for sustainable development. Portland cement is one of the most energy-intensive materials of construction, and is responsible for some emissions of carbon dioxide — the main greenhouse gas causing global warming. Efforts are being made in the construction industry to address these by utilising supplementary materials and developing alternative binders in concrete; the application of geopolymer technology is one such alternative. Indeed, geopolymers have emerged as novel engineering materials with considerable promise as binders in the manufacture of concrete. Apart from their known technical attributes, such as superior chemical and mechanical properties, geopolymers also have a smaller greenhouse footprint than Portland cement binders. / Research on the development, manufacture, behaviour and applications of low calcium fly ash-based geopolymer concrete has been carried out at Curtin University of Technology since 2001. Past studies of the structural behaviour of reinforced fly ash-based geopolymer concrete members have covered the flexural behaviour of members. Further studies are needed to investigate other aspects of the structural behaviour of geopolymer concrete. Design for both shear and bond are important in reinforced concrete structures. Adequate shear resistance in reinforced concrete members is essential to prevent shear failures which are brittle in nature. The performance of reinforced concrete structures depends on sufficient bond between concrete and reinforcing steel. The present research therefore focuses on the shear and bond behaviour of reinforced low calcium fly ash-based geopolymer concrete beams. / For the study of shear behaviour of geopolymer concrete beams, a total of nine beam specimens were cast. The beams were 200 mm x 300 mm in cross section with an effective length of 1680 mm. The longitudinal tensile reinforcement ratios were 1.74%, 2.32% and 3.14%. The behaviour of reinforced geopolymer concrete beams failing in shear, including the failure modes and crack patterns, were found to be similar to those observed in reinforced Portland cement concrete beams. Good correlation of test-to-prediction value was obtained using VecTor2 Program incorporating the Disturbed Stress Field Model proposed by Vecchio (2000). An average test-to-prediction ratio of 1.08 and a coefficient of variation of 8.3% were obtained using this model. It was also found that the methods of calculations, including code provisions, used in the case of reinforced Portland cement concrete beams are applicable for predicting the shear strength of reinforced geopolymer concrete beams. / For the study of bond behaviour of geopolymer concrete beams, the experimental program included manufacturing and testing twelve tensile lap-spliced beam specimens. No transverse reinforcement was provided in the splice region. The beams were 200 mm wide, 300 mm deep and 2500 mm long. The effect of concrete cover, bar diameter, splice length and concrete compressive strength on bond strength were studied. The failure mode and crack patterns observed for reinforced geopolymer concrete beams were similar to those reported in the literature for reinforced Portland cement beams. The bond strength of geopolymer concrete was observed to be closely related to the tensile strength of geopolymer concrete. Good correlation of test bond strength with predictions from the analytical model proposed by Canbay and Frosch (2005) were obtained when using the actual tensile strength of geopolymer concrete. The average ratio of test bond strength to predicted bond strength was 1.0 with a coefficient of variation of 15.21%. It was found that the design provision and analytical models used for predicting bond strength of lapsplices in reinforced Portland cement concrete are applicable to reinforced geopolymer concrete beams.

This master thesis presents the effects of fly ash on the properties of alkali activated slag concrete, commonly referred as Geopolymer concrete (GPC). Cement manufacturer are major producers of CO2 which negatively affects the environment. Due to the increased construction activities and environmental concern, it is necessary to introduce alternative and eco-friendly binders for concrete. Slag and fly ash based concrete, which is by-product from industrial waste, is probably the best replacement for OPC concrete due to less or nil environmental issue. Most of the researchers have already concluded that slag and fly ash can be used as binders in concrete by activating them with alkali activator solution (e.g. by sodium silicate or sodium carbonate). In the present work concretes were produced by varying the proportion of slag to fly ash (40:60, 50:50, 60:40 & 80:20); amount of alkali activators (5, 10 & 14) and chemical modulus of sodium silicate (Ms) (0.25, 0.5 & 1).  Setting times and compressive strength values were evaluated. Results showed that decrease in fly ash content irrespective of % of alkali activators and alkali modulus (Ms), the compressive strength was increasing and setting time was getting shorter. The produced concretes showed increasing compressive strength with increase in % of alkali activator for Ms 0.5 and 1, while for Ms=0.25 the strength was decreasing with increase in % of alkali activators. From this it can be concluded that, Ms=0.5 was the optimum point below which the reaction got slower. Based on the initial investigations, mix S8:F2-SS10(1) and S8:F2-SS10(0.5) showed most promising results in terms of fresh and hardened concrete properties and were easy to handle. Consequently, the above mentioned mixture was chosen to be studied in more detail. The experimental program for these mixes included determination of slump flow, compressive strength (7, 14, 28 days) and shrinkage (drying and autogenous). The results shows that, strength increased with time and comparatively mix with Ms=0.5 showed higher compressive strength than mix with Ms=1, due to higher alkalinity of the pore solution. Mix with Ms=1 showed higher drying shrinkage compared to mix with Ms=0.5, which was explained by higher alkalinity of the solutions (Ms=0.5) leading to rapid formation of aluminosilicate gel. Autogenous shrinkage appeared to be higher for mix with Ms=0.5. This was associated with lower modulus which leads to densification of concrete microstructure at early ages. Pore diameter decrease and the water trapped in the pores exerted increasing tensile stress resulting for higher autogenous shrinkage.

The full text will be available at the end of the embargo: 26th April 2025

Geo-energy piles and walls have long been recognized as a promising way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while providing renewable energy. However, enhancing the thermal performance of these structures has remained a signif-icant challenge. This thesis evaluated five different approaches to improving the thermal performance of geo-energy piles and walls, through a series of experiments using a fully instrumented testing rig. The first approach involved adding graphTHERM powder to concrete to double its thermal conductivity, boosting heat transfer efficiency by an impressive 50% to 66%. The second approach tested slag-based geopolymer concrete as a sustainable construc-tion material for geo-energy piles and walls, reducing CO2 emissions by 44.5% while improving thermal performance by 14% to 21%. The third approach in-volved testing thermally enhanced soils at the geo-energy structures/soil inter-face, resulting in an 81% improvement in heat transfer efficiency. The fourth approach utilized innovative phase change material (PCM) heat exchangers that increased heat transfer efficiency by 75% and 43% in heating and cooling operations, respectively. Finally, incorporated PCM-impregnated light weight aggregates at the interface of the structure soil, significantly increasing tem-perature difference and reducing thermal deformation of geo-energy struc-tures.Overall, these innovative approaches made a significant contribution to enhancing the thermal performance of geo-energy piles and walls. However, approaches four and five, which involve utilizing PCM heat exchangers and PCM-impregnated LWA's, respectively, showed extra benefits in dropping the thermal effect on soils and reducing the thermal damage on those structures. These techniques offer great promise for improving the thermal performance of geo-energy structures.

Disertační práce se zabývá studiem strukturních a mechanických vlastností anorganických materiálů. Cílem je nalezení jednotlivých fází ve zkoumaném materiálu a hlavně lokalizace (mechanicky) nejslabšího místa, jeho ovlivnění a následně výroba materiálu o lepších mechanických vlastnostech. Z důvodu velkého množství použitých metod je základní teorie vložena vždy na začátku příslušné kapitoly. Taktéž z důvodu značného množství výsledků jsou na konci kapitol uvedeny dílčí závěry. Práce je rozdělena na tři části, kdy první se zabývá seznámením s možnostmi modelování mikro-mechanických vlastností a provedením experimentů umožňujících posouzení rozsahu platnosti některého modelu. V druhé části je provedeno shrnutí současných možností indentačních zkoušek pro měření mechanických vlastností strukturních složek betonu a praktické zvládnutí metodiky vhodné k užití pro výzkum materiálů zkoumaných domovským pracovištěm. V třetí části je navržena metoda identifikace nejslabších článků struktury anorganických pojiv a její ověření na konkrétním materiálu zkoumaném na domovském pracovišti. V této dizertační práci jsou použity tyto metody: kalorimetrie, ultrazvukové testování, jednoosá pevnost v tlaku, nanoindentace, korelativní mikroskopie a rastrovací elektronová mikroskopie s energiově disperzním spektrometrem. Dílčími výsledky jsou kompletní charakterizace cementových materiálů, upřesnění stávajících poznatků a nalezení optimálního postupu pro charakterizaci. Hlavním výsledkem je inovativní přístup vedoucí k pozitivnímu ovlivnění materiálu.