Geopolymer concrete an eco-friendly alternative to portland cement paving grade concrete

The current generation of "Sustainable development" demands the new concrete which uses the less natural resource, energy as well as generates less CO₂, without compromising on strength and durability aspects. In this context research works on geopolymer concrete prepared from conventional alkali-activator solutions like sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate curable at ambient temperature is gaining momentum now-a-days. In this paper, the paste phase and solid phase properties of geopolymer concrete containing quarry dust and sand as fine aggregate, suitable for rigid pavement application, curable at ambient temperature are the points of discussion. The targeted compressive strength of 40MPa was achieved soon after seven days of air curing and maximum strength attained in 28 days is nearly 62MPa. Both the compressive strength and the flexural strength were within the acceptance limit of paving grade concrete.