Optimization of Mixing Parameters in Nanosilica Toughened Cement Mortar Using Taguchi-Grey Relational Analysis

In this research, multi response Taguchi-grey relational approach was employed to optimize the mixing parameters in cement mortar preparation. The main aim of this present investigation is to find the optimal input variables like surface-modified nanosilica, water to cement ratio and plasticizer to achieve cement mortar with high compressive strength and low water absorption percentage. The surface-modification of nano-silica was done via aqueous solution method using 3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. When the input variables are more than one Taguchi-grey relational approach is a best method since it may give difference set of optimum level for each response. It is observed that the addition of surface modified nano-silica in cement mortar influenced high compressive strength with lower water absorption percentage. According to analysis surface-modified nanosilica of 2 wt%, water to cement ratio of 0.5 and plasticizer of 1 wt% (A3B2C3) is found to be producing highest compression strength of 53.86 MPa and lower water absorption percentage of 3.32. The SEM morphological images revealed uniform dispersion of nano-silica particle in void content of cement mortar.