Development and performance evaluation of novel sustainable one-part alkali-activated fibrous concrete subjected to drop weight impact loading: An experimental study

Sustainable materials are gaining focus to reduce carbon emissions, as conventional cement-based concrete contributes heavily to greenhouse gases. Researchers are exploring alternatives like alkali-activated concrete (AAC). However, using costly commercial activators has been a significant obstacle to the practical implementation of AAC. Consequently, scientists aim to develop methods for extracting powdered activators from agricultural and industrial waste. This study focuses on developing innovative activators from waste glass powder (GP) and silica-rich rice husk ash (RHA) to produce AAC. One-part AAC (OACC) simplifies mixing and enhances workability, but its performance under impact load is unexplored. This study examines the impact strength of OACC, which is comprised of a synthesized powder activator derived from agro-industrial waste. The OACC specimens used ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) as the primary precursor, activated with a developed powder activator to form a one-part binder system. The samples were prepared using six different RHA-based activators, six GP-based activators, and a commercial sodium silicate powder as a reference mix. The study incorporated two different fibre dosages, and the results were compared with those of non-fibrous OACC. Thirty-nine mixes with and without fibres were developed and tested using the ACI Committee 544 drop weight test. Findings show that the GP-based activators substantially enhance the impact properties of OAAC more effectively than RHA-based activators. With 1.0 % fibres, RHA-based OAAC increased initial cracking impact number values by 7.9-10.5 times and failure impact number values by 25.3-30.1 times compared to control mixes. GP-based OAAC G1.00F1.0 mix exhibited the highest energy absorption capacity. With 1.0 % fibres enhanced initial cracking impact number values by 6.2-8.9 times and failure impact number values by 19.9-25.5 times compared to controls. This study makes a novel contribution to the literature by introducing a new approach for the synthesize of powder activator, providing valuable insights into the development of OAAC, and addressing gaps in current research on the impact strength of the same.