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<doi>/ISEC.res.2017.171</doi>
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<article-title>SERVICEABILITY OF LOW CREEP FLY ASH<br/>
GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE BEAMS</article-title>
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<author>ARNAUD CASTEL, STEPHEN FOSTER, and RAYMOND IAN GILBERT</author>

<aff>Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety, School of Civil and Environmental<br/>
Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia</aff>


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<abstract>
<title>ABSTRACT</title>
<p>In reinforced concrete construction, deflection control is an important performance
criterion for their serviceability. The aim of the research described in this paper is to
assess the deformation of cracked reinforced geopolymer concrete beams under long
term service loading. The geopolymer binder is Portland cement free, using 85% of
low calcium fly ash, 15% of GGBFS (Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag) and a
sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide based activator. Firstly, geopolymer concrete drying
shrinkage and creep were measured. Different curing conditions at elevated
temperature were used. All experimental results are compared to predictions made
using the Eurocode 2. Secondly, geopolymer concrete beams were subjected to short
time bending tests leading to concrete cracking (pre-cracking tests). Beams were then
stored under sustained loading for a period of four months. Both deflection and cracks
were monitored versus time. Results show that, providing an appropriate heat curing
regime, geopolymer concrete creep is much lower than that observed for OPC concrete
and predicted by the Eurocode 2. As a result, the time-dependent deflection of
geopolymer concrete beams measured after 4 months under sustained loading was
always significantly lower than that of traditional OPC concrete beams. All results are
showing that the crack widths of geopolymer concrete beams are significantly smaller
than those expected for OPC concrete beams according to fib model code 2010 for both
short and long terms tests. It is concluded that low calcium fly ash-based geopolymer
concrete is a promising option for precast applications.</p>
<p><italic>Keywords: </italic>Alkali-activated, Reinforced concrete, Deflection, Time-dependent,
Cracking, Shrinkage.</p>
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