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Geomechanics and Engineering Volume 41, Number 2, April25 2025 (Special Issue) pages 297-306 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2025.41.2.297 |
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 open accessExperimental investigation on metakaolin/coal fly ash-based porous geopolymer grouting material for geotechnical applications |
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Karla Sierra, Philip Park, Chu-Lin Cheng, Yong Je Kim, Jae-Hoon Hwang, Bubryur Kim, Boo Hyun Nam and Jinwoo An
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| Abstract | ||
| This research investigates the development of a porous geopolymer cement grout for soil grouting applications, aiming to reduce carbon emissions associated with Portland cement while maintaining critical performance characteristics such as strength and permeability. Class F fly ash and metakaolin were used as aluminosilicate precursors, activated by sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide solutions. The addition of hydrogen peroxide served as a foaming agent to introduce porosity. Compressive strength and porosity were evaluated, with results showing that metakaolin significantly increased compressive strength due to its smaller particle size and higher reactivity. A higher molarity of sodium silicate enhanced strength by reducing the water-to-solid ratio, creating a denser matrix. In contrast, increasing hydrogen peroxide content raised porosity but reduced compressive strength by generating gas bubbles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the ongoing formation of hydration products and a growing amorphous structure in the geopolymer matrix, contributing to strength development over time. The study concludes that the geopolymer grout can be optimized for a wide range of soil stabilization applications by adjusting material composition, foaming agent concentration, and activator molarity, offering an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional cement grouts. | ||
| Key Words | ||
| coal fly ash; grouts; metakaolin; porous geopolymer; sinkhole remediation | ||
| Address | ||
| Karla Sierra, Chu-Lin Cheng: Department of Civil Engineering, the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, Texas, U.S.A Philip Park and Jinwoo An: Department of Civil Engineering, the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, Texas, U.S.A; Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM), Texas, U.S.A Yong Je Kim: Department of Civil Engineering, the University of Texas at El Paso, Texas, U.S.A Jae-Hoon Hwang: Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada Bubryur Kim: School of Space Engineering Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea; Department of Robot and Smart System Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea; Department of Safety Convergence, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea Boo Hyun Nam: Department of Civil Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Suwon, South Korea | ||