Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE EARTH, cilt.144, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study explores the effects of incorporating red pumice and waste vermiculite aggregates into lightweight geopolymer concrete (LWGPC) to develop sustainable, low-density construction materials. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted to evaluate the mechanical, dynamic, thermal, and microstructural properties of LWGPC produced using varying replacement levels of these lightweight aggregates. The results indicated that increasing the proportions of red pumice and vermiculite reduced compressive and flexural strengths because of increased porosity and discontinuities within the binder matrix. However, significant decreases in unit weight were also achieved, contributing to the material's lightweight character. Dynamic impact testing revealed that the mixture with 50% red pumice and 50% vermiculite provided the best balance of impact strength and energy dissipation. Meanwhile, the mixture containing 50% red pumice and 25% vermiculite demonstrated the best compromise between strength and density, retaining 76.4% of the control mix's compressive strength and 96.4% of its flexural strength. Oven curing significantly enhanced strength, impact resistance, and post-fire performance. Microstructural analyses using SEM and EDX confirmed the formation of N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels, while FTIR and TGA verified the successful geopolymerization and thermal stability up to 400 degrees C.