Influence of Slag-Based Geopolymer Concrete on the Seismic Behavior of Exterior Beam Column Joints

Abstract

In reinforced concrete (RC) constructions, the beam-column junctions are very sensitive to lateral and vertical loads. In the event of unforeseen earthquake and wind loads, this insufficient joint performance can lead to the failure of the entire structure. Cement industries emit a large amount of greenhouse gases during production, thus contributing to global warming. The nature of cement concrete is fragile. Cement output must be reduced in order to ensure environmental sustainability. Geopolymer concrete (GC), which is a green and low-carbon material, can be used in beam-column joints. M30 grade BBGC was developed and employed in the current study. Alkaline liquids are produced when sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide are mixed at room temperature. The alkaline liquid to fly ash ratio was fixed at 0.5, and the concentration of NaOH was fixed at 8 M. The mechanical properties of the Binary Blended Geopolymer concrete (BBGC), containing fly ash and GGBS, at proportions ranging from 0% to 100%, were investigated. This study was further expanded to examine the behavior of two groups of binary blended geopolymer concrete (BBGC) exterior beam-column joints, with cross sections of 230 mm × 120 mm and 170 mm × 120 mm. The column heights and lengths were both 600 mm under reverse cyclic loads in order to simulate earthquake conditions. The failure mechanism, ductility, energy absorption capacity, initial crack load, ultimate load carrying capacity, and structural performance was evaluated. The test findings showed that BBGC with 20% fly ash and 80% GGBS had the highest compressive strength and split tensile strength. When compared with other beam column joints, those containing 20% fly ash and 80% GGBS performed better under cyclic loading. The test findings imply that GGBS essentially enhances the joint performance of BBGC. The microstructural SEM and EDS studies revealed the reasons behind the improvement in strength of the GGBS fly ash-based Geopolymer concrete.