Impact Factor (2025): 6.9
DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET
Conventional
Portland cement concrete, though ubiquitous in infrastructure construction,
exhibits inherent brittleness characterized by low tensile strength and limited
strain capacity, typically failing catastrophically at microstrains of 100–200.
The progressive deterioration of concrete structures due to cracking under
service loads, thermal cycling, and dynamic forces necessitates the development
of innovative cementitious composites with enhanced deformation capacity. This
research investigates the development and characterization of flexible concrete
incorporating Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and Metakaolin (MK)
as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in an M30 grade concrete matrix,
targeting a minimum flexural strain capacity in the range of 500–800
microstrains. The experimental program was designed to systematically evaluate
the influence of partial cement replacement by GGBS (20%, 30%, and 40% by
weight of binder) and Metakaolin (5%, 10%, and 15% by weight of binder), individually
and in binary combination, on the fresh properties, mechanical strength, and
flexural ductility of concrete. A total of eighteen mix proportions, including
a control mix, were evaluated. Specimens were prepared and tested in accordance
with applicable Indian Standards, including IS 10262:2019, IS 516:1959
(Reaffirmed 2018), IS 5816:1999, and IS 1786:2008. Test results demonstrated
that optimized binary blends of 30% GGBS and 10% Metakaolin yielded compressive
strengths of approximately 34.2 MPa at 28 days, meeting the M30 performance
criterion while exhibiting a flexural strain capacity of 672 microstrains—well
within the target range. The incorporation of SCMs refined the pore structure,
enhanced the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), and promoted secondary
pozzolanic reactions, collectively contributing to improved toughness and
crack-arrest mechanisms. Strain energy density values were computed from
load-deflection data, revealing a 58% enhancement over the control mix in
optimized specimens. Results were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA)
and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to correlate microstructural attributes
with macroscopic behaviour.
Country : India
IRJIET, Volume 10, Issue 3, March 2026 pp. 29-34