Hydration and Strength Properties of Alkali-Activated High-Volume Fly Ash Concrete: Incorporation of Water Glass and Sodium Hypochlorite Activators

Concrete, a major component in construction, is directly dependent on the accelerating rate of social and cultural growth over time. In order to achieve growth in sustainable construction in cement and concrete industry, fly ash, as a by-product material, is the most popular supplementary cementitious material compared to other components. This research investigates the mechanical and physical properties of concrete cubes composed of class F fly ash and activated by a new type alkali activator combination of sodium silicate and sodium hypochlorite. Because alkali solutions cause an acid–base reaction with other materials, the primary goal of this research is to highlight the effect of alkali solution on the strength and workability of fresh concrete paste. This paper also presents a new mix design for M30, M40, M50, and M60 alkali-activated concrete with various cement replacement levels (CRL) with class F pulverized fly ash from 40% (b/w), 50% (b/w), 60% (b/w), and 70% (b/w) of the cement to produce eco-friendly, cost-effective concrete for real-world construction.