Investigation on the effect of curing time on the mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete.

Geopolymer concrete could be an alternative of the conventional concrete due their quality and performance in different conditions. In this study, to investigate the effect of curing period on the mechanical properties of the geopolymer concrete specimens. The specimens were cured in the oven at 600C for 4hours to 72 hours, and check the effect of various curing period by the density, drying shrinkage, compressive strength, splitting tensile, flexural strength, poison's ratio, elastic modulus, rebound strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity test. After the experimental investigation, it is concluded that the compressive strength, splitting tensile, and flexural strength increases rapidly from 4hours to 24hours of the curing period but after the increment of the curing period shows a little bit increment. The maximum elastic modulus was found at 72hours curing period specimens, whereas the minimum elastic modulus was found at the 4hours curing period specimens. The maximum density was found at the 4hours curing period specimens, whereas the minimum was found at 72hours curing period specimens. The rebound strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity show a similar pattern to the compressive strength of the specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]