Swinburne: Deep Beam Shear Behaviour Strengthened with CFRP

This report investigates the shear behavior of deep reinforced concrete beams with openings, focusing on the effectiveness of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips for strengthening. The introduction of openings reduces shear strength and increases stress concentrations, potentially leading to failure. The research explores how CFRP reinforcement near openings can enhance the beam's load-bearing capacity. It also examines the optimal placement of openings, suggesting that positioning them above the neutral axis can minimize crack propagation through the opening. The report concludes that CFRP strengthening improves the strength of deep beams with openings and highlights the importance of opening placement for structural integrity. Swinburne University's ICT80011 Research Methods course is associated with this work. Desklib provides access to similar student-contributed documents.

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Geopolymer Concrete Road Pavements
By (Student’s Name)
Course
Professor’s Name
University
City
Date

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Abstract
Recently, the generation at present is concentrating on sustainable development that focuses on a
new concrete using a lesser natural resource, reduced CO2 generation together with lesser energy
use without reducing the durability and strength aspects. Using the sustainable development
context, this research aims to produce a geopolymer concrete that will be prepared using the
conventional alkali-activator mixes such as sodium silicate as well as sodium hydroxide that are
curable at ambient temperatures. These alkali-activators are gaining popularity at a fast rate. The
points of discussion within this paper will be the solid phase and paste phase geopolymer
concrete properties whose contents will be sand and quarry dust as its fine aggregates. These
mixes and conditions make the geopolymer concrete produce a better-suited pavement rigidity
from the concrete in the discussion. The research targets to attain a 40Mpa compressive strength
within a suitable period of time once air-cured and later the strength should at least reach a
maximum of 60Mpa. These conditions would make the developed concrete should be having a
flexural strength and compressive strength acceptable for pavement concrete development.
Keywords: Geopolymer concrete, Alkaline activators, Sustainable development, Strength,
Durability

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Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
1. Introduction..............................................................................................................................7
2. Review of Related work...........................................................................................................7
2.1. Materials............................................................................................................................7
2.2. Cement Production CO2 Emission...................................................................................7
2.2.1. Geopolymer Cement Production...............................................................................7
2.3. Performance...................................................................................................................8
3. Problem Statement...................................................................................................................8
3.1. Sub-Problems....................................................................................................................8
4. Hypothesis................................................................................................................................9
5. Delimitations............................................................................................................................9
6. Assumptions.............................................................................................................................9
7. Definition of Terms................................................................................................................10
8. Importance of Work...............................................................................................................10
9. Methodology..........................................................................................................................11
9.1. General design.................................................................................................................11
9.2. Materials required...........................................................................................................11
9.3. Experimental Procedure (Casting and Testing)..............................................................11
10. Results and Discussion.......................................................................................................12

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10.1. Paving Grade Fresh Properties....................................................................................12
10.2. Density.........................................................................................................................13
10.3. Compressive Strength..................................................................................................14
11. Conclusion and Future Work..............................................................................................16
12. Acknowledgement..............................................................................................................17
13. References...........................................................................................................................18

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List of Figures
Figure 1 - Slump test......................................................................................................................13
Figure 2 - Spread test.....................................................................................................................13
Figure 3- Graphical display of compression loading test..............................................................15
Figure 4 - Graphical display of flexural strength results...............................................................16

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List of Tables
Table 1 - Geopolymer concrete mixes composition......................................................................12
Table 2 - Spread, compaction factor and slump test results..........................................................13
Table 3 - Compression loading results..........................................................................................14
Table 4 - Flexural strength results.................................................................................................15

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1. Introduction
The important material within the construction industry is the Portland Cement Concrete that is
used in all the world’s infrastructure development activities (Siddique & Cachim, 2018). The
process of manufacturing Portland Cement, the major component of concrete, leads to around
7% emission of the total world’s anthropogenic CO2 gas which is the main greenhouse gas
leading to the climatic change and global warming (Kaparaju et al., 2018). However, there exist
ways of recycling suitable material byproducts used in the construction industry due to their
high-end high-volume uses in the industry (Ghavami & Jesús, 2018).
2. Review of Related work
2.1. Materials
Looking into Davidovits (2015), there is a major on the rock-based materials that had high
kaolinite composition. The source studies variables impacting the kaolin-based mechanical
properties in geo-polymer concrete. However, these sources still discussed the fact of the
depletive issue of using fly ash in geo-polymer concrete.
The next component in producing geo-polymer concrete is discussed in Khatib (2016), whereby,
the use of chemical activators that are mainly in mild alkaline reagents forms experimented.
These reagents are in aqueous silicate mixes mostly containing metal alkali and silica, of
molarity ratio SiO2: M2O that is more than 1.65.
2.2. Cement Production CO2 Emission
2.2.1. Geopolymer Cement Production
Geopolymer cement manufacture leads to an environmentally friendly possible solution for
replacing the conventional Portland Cement. Wangler & Flatt (2018) support this notion and

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claims that geo-polymer concrete is able to reduce pollution to a 90 kg CO2 production per tonne
of cement manufactured.
2.3. Performance
Zhan, et al. (2018) made a review of the geopolymer concrete's technical properties to publish a
90 MPa and a 10 MPa compressive strength and flexural strength cement properties at 28 days.
These results are also obtained and supported in Provis & van Deventer (2013) who obtained up
to 100 MPa compressive concrete strength. Therefore, the potential strength development, as
well as the final strength of geo-polymer concrete, indicates its viability as a Portland cement's
alternative in numerous applications.
3. Problem Statement
The production of Portland Cement material pollutes the environment due to the large volume of
fuel burnt during its production and the amount of energy used in the process. Moreover, it is
using up most of the natural resources due to the high demand. It is therefore prudent to come up
with an alternative paving material that helps in conserving the environment. A paving material
that has less emission and can recycle waste materials.
3.1. Sub-Problems
In the process, the following sub-problems should be solved to enable successful completion of
the project;
 Developing acceptable strength and workability pavement concrete.
 Successful incorporation of geo-polymer material cement.
Once the problems are dealt with, the produced pavement concrete would use easily available
material and conserves the environment.

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4. Hypothesis
This research intends to use the mixed method research design since combining the technique
enables the production of statistical data that derive important trends in numbers as well as
information that is not easily reduced to numbers for improved characterization and analysis of
data (Zhan et al., 2018). Quantitative findings will come from the attained pavement concrete’s
test readings which will be analyzed qualitatively when coming up with the discussion,
conclusion and future work information.
5. Delimitations
Based on the findings mentioned above, geopolymer cement can be applied as an alternative
cement in the place of Portland cement on numerous occasions. Geo-polymer also has the
potential to alter and adapt to the concrete/cement when providing solutions to specialized or
specific needs. However, there exists a delicate balance between strength and durability. The
developed mix should look to maintain or improve the quality of the pavement concrete by
balancing strength and durability according to required standards.
6. Assumptions
The following assumptions are considered for the application of this project;
 Quarry dust and alkaline solutions are easily accessible.
 The project is inexpensive.
 The geo-polymer binder material will produce slump and spread properties allowing
workability.
 The pavement concrete development will take a short time.

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7. Definition of Terms
Concrete Slump and Spread
These are test done to check for proper mixing of concrete materials thus ensuring workability
during construction.
Geopolymer Cement
A type of concrete that uses alkaline solutions as binders, utilizing the polymerization process to
form concrete.
Alkaline solution
This is a solution formed by dissolving a base solid in water.
Binder Material
This is a substance able to adhesively hold various materials together.
Casting
This is the process of pouring liquid material into molds that allow the formation of desired
shapes once the liquid solidifies.
8. Importance of Work
There has been considerable interest in the production of the geo-polymer concrete, specifically
to tackle the greenhouse gas emission and sustainability issues coming from the cement industry
(Kaparaju et al., 2018). The geo-polymer concrete discussed by Khatib (2016) is the latest
innovation for use in the cement industry for the production of sustainable concrete.

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Rama & Ramanjaneyulu (2018) importantly identifies that using geo-polymer concrete reduces
CO2 emission, thereby, gives a lower CO2 footprint than the conventional concrete. Also, this
type of invention eliminates or reduces the need to use the enormous raw materials as used in
Portland Cement other than providing potential additional Silicon and Aluminum materials
recycling (Shi et al., 2018).
9. Methodology
9.1. General design
This paper combines the mixed method of researching to achieve the set aims and objectives.
9.2. Materials required
1. Alkaline solution.
2. Water.
3. Aggregates (Quarry dust and clean river sand)
4. Fly ash.
5. Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag.
6. Superplasticizer.
9.3. Experimental Procedure (Casting and Testing)
The geo-polymer mixes composition in this experiment is displayed in table 1 below. The
sodium hydroxide solution of 12M is best suited for this research (Pacheco-Torgal et al.,
2018). The chosen alkaline solution had to be made ready 24 hours before starting to mix.
Mix M2 and M1 are almost identical in constituents, however, M2 used quarry dust rather
than sand but in the same proportion. M3 also replaced quarry dust for sand to be the fine
aggregate. M3’s coarse aggregate is a bit higher than M2 and M1.

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Table 1 - Geopolymer concrete mixes composition
Materials M2 (Kg/m3) M1 (Kg/m3) M3 (Kg/m3)
GGBS 330 330 237
Fly ash 220 220 158
NaOH sol. (L/m3) 45.15 45.15 45.15
S.P (L/m3) 112.88 112.88 112.88
Na2SiO3 sol. (L/m3) 16.5 16.5 11.85
F.A (river sand) 735 - 555
F.A (quarry dust) - 735
Water (L/m3) 870 870 1290
C.A 41.8 24.75 39.5
Alkaline: Binder
ratio
2.5 2.5 2.5
Na2SiO3/NaOH 0.213 0.19 0.28
Water: GPS ratio 0.29 0.29 0.40
10. Results and Discussion
10.1. Paving Grade Fresh Properties
The slump targeted was within 6-8 inches with a spread ranging between 11-13 inches as
well as a >95% compaction factor. Figure 1 shown below describes the slump tests while
Figure 2 shows the spread test in action. Table 2, on the other hand, shows the results
obtained from the spread, compaction factor and slump tests. When compared to the target
standards, the compaction value of the mixes M1, M2 and M3 were closely related.
However, the slump test for M3 did not reach the target value. M1 and M2 had their slump
values close to the target value. The difference came from the slightly increased coarse
aggregate content and lesser quarry dust that lead to mobility loss and stiffening (Rama &
Ramanjaneyulu, 2018).