http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp 305 editor@iaeme.com International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 7, Issue 5, September-October 2016, pp. 305–314, Article ID: IJCIET_07_05_034 Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=7&IType=5 ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316 © IAEME Publication STRENGTH AND DURABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF FLY ASH AND SLAG BASED GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE Dr. Aradhana Mehta Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India. Kuldeep Kumar Assistant Professor, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, India. ABSTRACT The paper explore the feasibility of using fly ash and slag based geopolymer concrete and to investigate their strength and durability characterstics. Geopolymer concrete was developed using fly ash and GGBS in different percentages and the strength and durability characteristics of this new concrete were investigated in order to explain its utilization potential. Studies are being systematically conducted on these new materials with regards to both strength and durability characteristics. In the present investigation, the GPCs were subjected to attack by sulphuric acid for understanding durability aspects of the new concretes. In present research work, fly ash and slag based geopolymer was used as the binder, instead of Portland or any other hydraulic cement paste, to produce concrete. The fly ash-slag based geopolymer paste binds the loose coarse aggregates, fine aggregates and other unreacted materials together to form the geopolymer concrete, with or without the presence of admixtures. Key words: Compressive Strength, Split-tensile Strength and Flexural Strength. Cite this Article: Dr. Aradhana Mehta and Kuldeep Kumar, Strength and Durability Characteristics of Fly Ash and Slag Based Geopolymer Concrete. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 7(5), 2016, pp.305–314. http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=7&IType=5 1. INTRODUCTION The abundance and availability of fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag worldwide create opportunity to utilise this byproduct of burning coal and manufacturing of iron, as partial replacement or as performance enhancer for OPC. Fly ash and slag based geopolymer was used as the binder, instead of Portland or any other hydraulic cement paste, to produce concrete. The fly ash-slag based geopolymer paste binds the loose coarse aggregates, fine aggregates and other unreacted materials together to form the geopolymer concrete, with or without the presence of admixtures. In the present study low calcium (Class F) fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag was used as the base materials or geopolymer materials. In addition, the amount of energy required to produce OPC is only next to steel and aluminium. As the demand for OPC is continuously increasing, whereas the natural resources are fast depleting and hence there is a need to look for suitable alternatives to OPC. Lime stone based Portland cements are good binders for conventional cement concretes