Group 4: COMPRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF GEOPOLYMER MORTAR

USING GLASS AS FINE AGGREGATES

Objectives
The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of particle size of powdered glass on the
compressive strength of geopolymer mortar. The main objectives of the study are the following:
(a) Investigate the influence of particle size of powdered glass on the compressive strength
of geopolymer mortar.
(b) Characterize the effects of particle size of powdered glass on the failure mode of
geopolymer mortar.
(c) Determine the effects of particle size of powdered glass on the compressive strength of
geopolymer mortar using ambient and oven curing.
(d) Compare the compressive strength of powdered glass and sand as fine aggregates in
geopolymer mortar.
Mix Design Proportion by Weight
A ratio 1:1.5 of fly ash to fine aggregates will be used. A similar ratio of 1:1.5 of fly ash to sand
will also be used for the control mix. The molarity of NaOH solution to be used will 10 M which
was used by Novais et al. (2016) which produced the optimum results. The ratio of NaOH
solution to Na2SiO3 solution will be 1:2.5, which was recommended by Malkawi et al. (2016).
The ratio of alkaline activator to fly ash will be 1:2 which gave the highest compressive strength
in the study on geopolymer concrete conducted by Al Bakri et al. (2012). These proportions are
summed up in the table below.
Mixture
Alkaline to Fly Ash
Sieve Designation
Ratio

M1
0.5
#200

M2
0.5
#100

M3
0.5
#60

M4
0.5
#40

M5
0.5
#20

M6
0.5
Sand

Particle Size Range (mm)

(< 0.127)

(0.127 0.25)

(0.254 0.42)

(0.42 0.635)

(0.635 1.27)

(varies)

33.33%

33.33%

33.33%

33.33%

33.33%

33.33%

10%

10%

10%

10%

10%

0%

40%

40%

40%

40%

40%

50%

4.76%

4.76%

4.76%

4.76%

4.76%

4.76%

11.91%

11.91%

11.91%

11.91%

11.91%

11.91%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Fly Ash
% by
Weight

Glass Fine
Aggregates
Sand Fine
Aggregates
NaOH
Solution
Sodium

Silicate
Total Percentage

(%)
Compressive Testing of Mortar Specimens
Eighteen specimens will be cast for each design mix, including the control mix. In each mix,
nine cylinders will be cured in pure ambient conditions and the remaining nine will be oven
cured. Compressive test will be performed on the specimens of each design mix at the ages of 7,

14 and 28-day curing periods, having a total of 126 mortar specimens to be tested. Table 3.2
illustrates the quantity of specimens to be cast and tested.
Table 3.2 Specimen Count
Ambient Curing
Curing Period

Mix
Designation

7 Days

M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
M6

Oven Curing
Curing Period

14 Days 28 Days

3
3
3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3
3
3

7 Days

Total

14 Days 28 Days

3
3
3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3
3
3

18
18
18
18
18
18

T
t

al = 108 specimens
Testing Plan of Specimens
December 6, 2016 (Tuesday) -

the students will continue to pulverize he waste

glass until they reach 7 kg of glass for each sieve

designation.
December 9, 2016 (Friday) -

the students will prepare the containers for the

mixing of the NaOH and Na2SiO3.

December 12, 2016 (Monday) - the students will mix the 0.6426 kg of NaOH and
1.608 kg of Na2SiO3 for the 18 specimens to be cast the
following day.
December 13, 2016 (Tuesday) the students will mix the components of the
geopolymer mortar as follows:

Mixture
Alkaline to Fly Ash
Sieve Designation
Ratio

M1
0.5
#200

M2
0.5
#100

M3
0.5
#60

M4
0.5
#40

M5
0.5
#20

M6
0.5
Sand

Particle Size Range (mm)

(< 0.127)

(0.127 0.25)

(0.254 0.42)

(0.42 0.635)

(0.635 1.27)

(varies)

0.743 kg

0.743 kg

0.743 kg

0.743 kg

0.743 kg

0.743 kg

0.225 kg

0.225 kg

0.225 kg

0.225 kg

0.225 kg

0 kg

0.900 kg

0.900 kg

0.900 kg

0.900 kg

0.900 kg

1.125 kg

0.107 kg

0.107 kg

0.107 kg

0.107 kg

0.107 kg

0.107 kg

0.268 kg

0.268 kg

0.268 kg

0.268 kg

0.268 kg

0.268 kg

2.25 kg

2.25 kg

2.25 kg

2.25 kg

2.25 kg

2.25 kg

Fly Ash
Glass Fine

% by
Weight

Aggregates
Sand Fine
Aggregates
NaOH Solution
(10M)
Sodium Silicate

Total Mass

Total
Mass
4.46
1.125
5.625
0.642
1.608