TY - GEN
T1 - Performance of Metakaolin-Based Alkali-Activated Mortar for Underwater Placement
AU - Hwalla, Joud
AU - Saba, Mariane
AU - Assaad, Joseph
AU - El-Hassan, Hilal
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - This study assesses the performance of metakaolin (MK)-based alkali-activated geopolymers as potential materials for underwater applications. Mortars were formulated using gradually higher sand volumes, which resulted in binder-to-sand ratios varying from 1:3 to 1:1.85 and 1:0.8. The alkali-activated solution (AAS) was produced using sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide. The AAS was adjusted to achieve a flow of 16 and 22 ± 1 cm while the setting times, plastic viscosity, washout loss, and 28-day compressive strengths were determined. Generally, an increase in AAS content prolonged setting time, while washout loss increased with higher sand content. Mortars with lower flowability exhibited higher resistance to washout, attributed to higher viscosity and stickiness of the matrix. The compressive strengths of mortars cast in dry or underwater conditions ranged between 23.4–54.1 MPa and 12.7–28.3 MPa, respectively; the residual strengths varied from 50.5% to 75.6%, mainly depending on the AAS-to-binder ratio.
AB - This study assesses the performance of metakaolin (MK)-based alkali-activated geopolymers as potential materials for underwater applications. Mortars were formulated using gradually higher sand volumes, which resulted in binder-to-sand ratios varying from 1:3 to 1:1.85 and 1:0.8. The alkali-activated solution (AAS) was produced using sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide. The AAS was adjusted to achieve a flow of 16 and 22 ± 1 cm while the setting times, plastic viscosity, washout loss, and 28-day compressive strengths were determined. Generally, an increase in AAS content prolonged setting time, while washout loss increased with higher sand content. Mortars with lower flowability exhibited higher resistance to washout, attributed to higher viscosity and stickiness of the matrix. The compressive strengths of mortars cast in dry or underwater conditions ranged between 23.4–54.1 MPa and 12.7–28.3 MPa, respectively; the residual strengths varied from 50.5% to 75.6%, mainly depending on the AAS-to-binder ratio.
KW - Alkali activated mortar
KW - Geopolymer
KW - Metakaolin
KW - Underwater placing
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U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-69626-8_9
DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-69626-8_9
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85218448736
SN - 9783031696251
T3 - Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering
SP - 93
EP - 104
BT - The 1st International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment - Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices
A2 - Kioumarsi, Mahdi
A2 - Shafei, Behrouz
PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
T2 - 1st International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment: Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices, NTZR 2024
Y2 - 19 June 2024 through 21 June 2024
ER -