Development of Solid and Hollow Geopolymer Masonry Blocks

Abstract

Cement masonry units are not considered as
sustainable due to consumption of fuel, cement and natural
resources. It is essential to find alternatives. This paper reports
about making of Geopolymers solid and hollow blocks and
masonry prisms and wallets using non conventional materials
like fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and
manufacture sand which were cured in ambient temperature.
They were tested for water absorption, initial rate of water
absorption, dry density, dimensionality, compressive, flexural,
and bond-strength. Also they were tested with and without lateral
confinement, modulus of elasticity, alternative drying and
wetting test and to masonry efficiency. It was found that the
properties of geopolymer blocks were superior to the traditional
masonry blocks. Masonry efficiency increases with decrease in
thickness of the cement mortar joints. There was marginal
difference in strength between rendered and unrendered
geopolymer masonry blocks. The percentage of weight gain after
7 cycles was less than 6%. The percentage of reduction in
strength of geopolymer solid block and hollow blocks were 26%
and 28 respectively. It is observed that the average compressive
strength of the axially loaded and eccentrically loaded wallets for
the solid blocks was 2.07 and 1.87 MPa and hollow blocks was
2.31 and 1.95 MPa respectively. These properties are
comparatively better than the traditional masonry Hence
geopolymer blocks can be recommended for structural masonry.