An Experimental Study to Investigate the Feasibility of Marble Dust in Geo-Polymer Concrete as Fine Aggregate

Geo-polymer concrete is a non-conventional material in the field of construction material, it has already solved the problem of inclusion of cement in concrete with a newer material of fly ash or GGBF slag. But taking a step further in this field the constituents of geo-polymer concrete apart from binder material like fine and coarse aggregate can be replaced by supplementary materials which can reduce environmental degradation in a low economic scale. To study the behaviour of geo-polymer concrete, having partial replacement (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) of fine aggregate with waste marble dust, an experimental study is carried out and the effect on flexure and compressive strength characteristics is studied. Various properties of fresh concrete like its workability, flow index etc. are also considered. For the present study all other parameters like curing temperature, and alkaline solution to solid mass ratio etc. are kept constant. The result of this present investigation indicates that the replacement of certain percentage of fine aggregate with waste marble powder attains maximum compressive and flexural strength. The optimal percentage for replacement of marble powder with fine aggregate is found out by testing of specimen for compressive strength and flexural strength .This also reduces the costs for construction of structures by using marble powder which is freely or cheaply available and more importantly use of geo-polymer concrete minimizes the consumption of cement. More over the use of marble dust reduces the excessive excavation of sand from the river bed thus reducing the environmental impact.