Experimental Investigation on the Strength of Stabilized Geopolymer Mud Blocks with Various Types of Mortar

Stabilized Geopolymer mud blocks were produced by compacting a mixture of mud as aggregate and fly ash as binder with an alkaline solution made of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide in a block making machine. The blocks were cured at ambient temperature and were tested for water absorption, initial rate of absorption, dimensionality, density and compressive strength at different ages. Mortar is the one which bonds two masonry units together so they function as a single unit in the structure. In this paper, the performance of stabilized geopolymer mud block masonry strength with various types of mortar like cement mortar, cement-soil mortar, fly-ash-based geopolymer mortar at various ages was studied. Geopolymer mortar with its good compressive strength proved to exhibit promising properties compared to cement mortar and cement soil mortar and hence, suitable in masonry construction. It was found that the stabilized geopolymer mud block also developed significant strength and was found to be suitable for the construction of load bearing masonry structures. The basic properties of stabilized geopolymer mud block masonry was well within the limits prescribed in the relevant IS codes. Better load carrying capacity and crack propagation were observed while testing the masonry prisms. The study proves that the stabilized geopolymer block masonry can be efficiently used as an alternative building material which at a global economy accounts to reduction in the use of cement and cement products as building materials, and reuse of waste materials like fly ash and hence be eco-friendly.