Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2025
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.
Recommended Citation
Sierra, Karla, Philip Park, Chu Lin Cheng, Yong Je Kim, Jae Hoon Hwang, Bubryur Kim, Boo Hyun Nam, and Jinwoo An. "Experimental investigation on metakaolin/coal fly ash-based porous geopolymer grouting material for geotechnical applications." Geomechanics and Engineering 41, no. 2 Special Issue (2025): 297-306. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2025.41.2.297
Publication Title
Geomechanics and Engineering
DOI
10.12989/gae.2025.41.2.297
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