Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer SIFCON Concrete Made by Metakaolin

The problem of carbon dioxide emissions is one of the most prominent challenges facing the international community, and cement is considered one of the main sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Recently, there has been a trend towards using alternatives to cement that contain a high percentage of silica and alumina. For example, metakaolin has been used as an alternative to cement. Using metakaolin as a binder and two types of steel fiber (micro and hooked steel fiber) at varying percentages (0, 4, 8, 12) of the mortar that was utilized, this study studied certain physical and mechanical properties of Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Geopolymer Concrete (SIFCON). To determine the optimal consistency, the SIFCON underwent extensive testing, beginning with the geopolymer slurry. After that, several mechanical tests were carried out, including impact, flexural, splitting, and compressive strength. Using 8% micro steel fiber, the test results demonstrated a 28.2% improvement in compressive strength. In addition, flexural strength was enhanced by 99.6% and splitting strength by 68.6% when 8% hooked-end steel fiber was used. When it came time for the impact test to start cracking, micro steel fiber was the most resistant, while hooked steel fiber was the most effective at extending the time to reach final failure.