Faculty Publications

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Microstructural insights of geopolymer mortar using binary blended sustainable fine aggregates
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Clement, D.; C, R.; Agarwal, S.; Pratap, M.
The socio-economic growth of a nation depends heavily on the availability of adequate infrastructure, which relies on essential materials like river sand (RS) and cement. However, the rising demand for RS, combined with its excessive extraction causing ecological damage, and its increasing cost, has raised significant concerns. At the same time, the production of cement contributes significantly to environmental damage, especially through CO2 emissions. In this scenario geopolymer technology has emerged as a sustainable alternative to cement, offering environmental benefits and reducing the carbon footprint of construction materials. This study investigates the impact of replacing RS with copper slag (CS) and laterite soil (LS) in geopolymer mortar (GM) on key properties such as setting time, flowability, compressive strength, and microstructure. The results showed that as LS content increased, setting time and flowability decreased considerably, while increasing CS content caused a reduction in these values. Unlike the other observed parameters, the compressive strength values showed no distinct upward or downward trend. Moreover, the microstructural analysis, including SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, TGA and BET, provided valuable insights to support the observed results across various mix designs. Overall, the findings highlight that optimised binary blends of CS, LS and RS not only improved the compressive strength but also enhanced the microstructural characteristics of geopolymer mortar, reinforcing their potential as sustainable and high-performance alternatives to conventional fine aggregates. © 2025 The Authors
Enhancing sustainability with ternary blended cement and fine aggregate in self-compacting lateritic concrete with supplementary materials
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Kiran Bhat, K.; C, R.; Das, B.B.
This study explores an innovative approach to sustainable self-compacting concrete (SCC) by partially replacing natural fine aggregate (NFA) with lateritic fine aggregate (LFA) and manufactured sand (M-sand). Additionally, fly ash and ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag (UGGBS) were introduced as supplementary cementitious materials to enhance performance. Fresh properties of the SCC mixes met as per Indian standards, demonstrating satisfactory flowability, passing ability, and stability. Among the mixes, the combination of 30 % fly ash (30 F), 30 % LFA (30 L) and 50 % M-sand (50 M) replaced in the conventional SCC mix, designated as C30F30L50M, exhibited optimal workability and segregation resistance. Mechanical tests revealed improvements in long-term strength, with the optimized mix containing 5 % UGGBS showing superior flexural strength at 90 days. Durability assessments indicated increased water absorption in mixes containing LFA and M-sand, while the control mix displayed better resistance to chloride penetration. Microstructural analyses (SEM, XRD, TGA/DTG, and FTIR) confirmed enhanced hydration and phase development influenced by the blend of fine aggregates and supplementary materials. The findings highlight the potential of utilizing LFA and M-sand in SCC to achieve sustainable concrete with improved performance characteristics. © 2025 The Authors

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