Product Overview (Chapter) | COPAL Publishing Group

Dr Manjari Chakraborty | Dr Rizwan Kazmi

ISBN:

978-81-180058-1-0

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.67509/ceci5910

12. Sustainable Use of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Sand in Geopolymer Concrete for Eco-Friendly Construction

Circular Economy in the Construction Industry: Waste Management Practices

Siba Sankar Chanda | Shyamal Guchhait

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.67509/ceci5921

2026 | 337 pp.

Portland cement production significantly contributes to global CO2 emissions, accounting for approximately 5–30% of the total anthropogenic output. In the pursuit of sustainable construction materials, this study investigates the potential of geopolymer concrete (GPC) as an eco-friendly alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete. The GPC system was developed using a 50:50 blend of fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) as aluminosilicate binders, while natural fine aggregate (NFA) was partially or fully replaced with granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) at varying levels (0–100%). Natural coarse aggregate was kept constant throughout the experimental program. Mechanical and durability characteristics, including compressive strength (CS), split tensile strength (STS), flexural strength (FS), and water absorption (WA), were evaluated for 14 M GPC mixes after 28 days of curing. The results revealed that the optimum performance was achieved at 50% GBFS replacement (mix G50S50), yielding maximum CS, STS, and FS values of 48.6 MPa, 4.28 MPa, and 6.65 MPa, respectively. The WA reduced to 1.65%, demonstrating enhanced matrix density and reduced permeability. The improvement is primarily attributed to the filler and pozzolanic effects of GBFS, which refine pore structure, enhance particle packing, and promote the formation of calcium (sodium)-alumino-silicate-hydrate (C(N)−A−S−H) gels. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis confirmed a compact and homogeneous microstructure with reduced voids and well-developed gel phases. Overall, the study establishes that incorporating GBFS as a partial sand substitute not only improves strength and durability but also promotes sand conservation, resource efficiency, and circular economy principles, making GPC a viable pathway toward sustainable civil infrastructure.

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