Investigation of the Effect of Polyolefin Fibers and Cement Replacement with Slag on the Strength of Alkali-Activated Concrete Containing Rubber Particles in Normal and Acidic Environments

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Bahram Bolori kashali ¹

Iman Mohammadpour Nikbin ²

, Mohammad Javad Mahdizadeh ³

¹ Civil Eng.–Structural Eng., Deilaman Inst. of Higher Education.

² Dept. of Civil Eng., Islamic Azad Univ., Rasht Branch, Rasht.

³ Civil Eng.–Construction Mgmt., Ayandeghan Univ., Tonekabon, Iran.

10.22067/jfcei.2025.92782.1353

Abstract

Slag-Based Alkali-Activated Concrete, as a Sustainable Alternative to Cementitious Concrete, Has Been Developed by Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Utilizing Industrial Waste Materials Such as Slag and Rubber Particles. In this study, the effects of replacing cement with slag (0%, 10%, and 20%) and adding rubber particles (10% by volume of fine aggregate) on the mechanical properties of polyolefin fiber-reinforced alkali-activated concrete (0%, 0.5%, and 1% by volume) were investigated. The specimens were cured under dry conditions at 60°C and subjected to compressive and tensile strength tests in both normal and sulfuric acid environments. The results showed that replacing 20% of cement with slag and adding 1% fiber led to the highest compressive (44.6 MPa) and tensile (4.87 MPa) strengths under normal conditions. In the acidic environment, the specimen without cement (100% slag) and reinforced with 1% fiber exhibited the lowest compressive strength loss (a 32.1% decrease from 42.7 MPa to 29 MPa). Microstructural analyses and ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements confirmed the improvement in mechanical properties and durability of the specimens.

Keywords

Slag-Based Alkali-Activated Concrete

Polyolefin Fibers

Cement Replacement with Slag

Acid Resistance of Alkali-Activated Concrete

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