ISSN: 1304-7191 | E-ISSN: 1304-7205
Optimized mix framework for accelerated carbonation concrete by ground granulated blast furnace slag and silica fume
1Department of Civil Engineering, G H Raisoni University, Madhya Pradesh, 480337, India
2Department of Mechanical Engineering, G H Raisoni University, Madhya Pradesh, 480337, India
Sigma J Eng Nat Sci 2026; 44(2): 1153-1171 DOI: 10.14744/sigma.2026.2032
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Abstract

The proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen enormously, particularly in the last decade. The carbon sequestration technique reduces the carbon dioxide level in the atmo-sphere. One such method in concrete technology is carbonation curing of concrete during its early strength developing age. During accelerated carbonation, the un-hydrated particles in the concrete combine with carbon dioxide and form carbonate, leading to the accelerated so-lidification of concrete with improved durability properties. However, if the mix is not selected properly, then it takes a longer curing time than other traditional mixes. Hence, selecting the optimal mix based on the desired outcome and less curing time has tended to gain the finest mechanical properties. In this investigation, a novel approach, termite-based Taguchi optimi-zation, is implemented to predict the mix proportion of concrete from the material parameters of the concrete. Before, the termite model was not implemented for this specific application, nor was Taguchi optimization. The fitness function in the Termite algorithm helps with car-bonation curing of the concrete, and the prediction function is executed to determine the endurance parameters of the concrete, which is considered a novelty of the study. The endur-ance of the carbonation concrete is determined in terms of compression strength, carbonation depth, chloride permeability, water sorptivity, and acid attack. Moreover, the important results are the mix containing 15% silica fume and 60% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag has lower results in the permeability tests of concrete that include Carbonation depth of 4mm, water sorptivity of 0.0125 mm/sec0.5 and 619.25 coulombs in the chloride permeability test at the 28th day. In strength parameters, the mix containing 15% silica fume and 40% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag possesses higher compression strength of 47 MPa and strength reduction in the acid attack test of 6.26% at the 28-day test. Since, the mix proportion with 15% silica fume and 40% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag possess higher strength and optimal permeability values. This mix is considered an optimum mix for this research.