Compressive Strength of High Plastic Clay Stabilized with Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer and Its Synthesis Parameters

Abstract

Geopolymerization is an effective technique for utilizing industrial solid waste material as stabilizing material. This paper studies the effect of class-F fly ash-based geopolymer on compressible strength characteristics of high plastic clay using unconfined compression strength (UCS) test. Sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide were used as alkali activators in proportions of 60:40, respectively. The fly ash content was varied by 0, 10, 20 and 30% by dry weight of soil, and alkali activator was varied by 5, 10 and 15% by dry weight of soil–fly ash mix. UCS tests were carried out on the specimens contaminated under controlled curing environment. Unconfined compression strength increased with increase in fly ash and liquid activator content. The maximum UCS value of 790 kPa observed at 30% of fly ash content under elevated temperature of 50 °C. The influence of Si/Al and Na/Al ratios on compressive strength of geopolymeric materials was also identified. Further, numerical analysis was carried out to check the significance of factors effecting the compressive strength of the material. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.