Mechanical and Durability Properties of Slag-Based Alkali-Activated Concrete with Glass Textile and Polypropylene Fibers as a Sustainable Construction Material

This study presents a sustainable building material that utilizes alkali-activated slag (AAS) concrete, in alignment with advancements in environmentally friendly construction technologies. Glass textile-reinforced concrete (GTRC) was produced using this type of concrete, incorporating various amounts of polypropylene (PP) fibers and multiple layers of fiberglass mesh. The research evaluated both the mechanical properties and durability of the GTRC. To assess the mechanical properties, compressive strength, tensile strength, and four-point bending tests were conducted on concrete specimens. Furthermore, a freeze-thaw test, along with a carbonation test under a 5% CO2 concentration, was conducted to evaluate the permeability of the glass textile-reinforced alkali-activated slag concrete. The results demonstrated that alkali-activated slag concrete can effectively enhance the properties of textile-reinforced concrete (TRC), particularly in terms of flexural strength and durability. Adding two layers of fiberglass mesh to samples containing 0.2% and 0.5% polypropylene fibers increased the flexural strength by 26.79% and 11.91%, respectively. Additionally, when the number of fiberglass mesh layers was doubled from one to two, the flexural strength improved by approximately 10.27%, depending on the location of the meshes. The combination of mesh layers and PP fibers significantly enhanced the freeze-thaw resistance of the concrete. After 300 freeze-thaw cycles, specimens with two mesh layers and 0.2% and 0.5% PP fibers exhibited increases in flexural strength of 15.93% and 27.11%, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of glass textile-reinforced alkali-activated slag concrete as a sustainable alternative material in the construction industry, contributing to the advancement of eco-friendly building technologies.