Strength development and masonry properties of geopolymer stabilised soil-LPC (lime-pozzolana cement) mixes.

• Masonry products made using LPC and low-molar alkaline solution are easily produced by adobe process and solar curing. • Usage of locally available materials, industrial by-products as pozzolanas and low-concentrated alkaline solution. • Potential to produce lime-pozzolana cement in small scale and use it as an alternate to Portland cement. • High compressive strength and shear strength for masonry products. • Masonry prism strength and efficiency are satisfactory for low-rise load bearing masonry buildings. Soil-based blocks and binders have emerged as sustainable alternatives to masonry units, and alkali-activated polymers (geopolymers) are being studied as alternatives to cement. This study attempts to stabilise soil using a combination of geopolymerisation and hydration. Strength gain and applicability of soil-based lime-pozzolana cement (LPC)-industrial by-products-geopolymer mortar have been studied. In order to optimise usage of alkaline materials, a series of parametric studies were carried out. A combination of LPC and flyash led to wet compressive strength of around 7.0 MPa, while a combination of LPC and ultra-fine slag resulted in strength of nearly 18.0 MPa. One of these mixes was used to develop bricks in order to investigate its masonry properties. Besides obtaining masonry strength parameters such as shear strength, bond strength and tensile strength for mortars, an attempt has additionally been made to obtain masonry prism strength and modulus of elasticity of prism assemblage. The masonry properties were found to be satisfactory for construction of low-rise, load-bearing masonry buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]