A Comparative Study On The Efficiency Of Self-Curing Concrete, Self-Compacting Concrete And Geopolymer Concrete

In addition to normal concrete, other varieties in use are the three eco-friendly types of concrete: self-curing concrete, self-compacting concrete, and geopolymer concrete. The function of the self-curing agent is to increase the water retention capacity of concrete compared to conventionally cured concrete. Self-compacting concrete is a fluid mixture suitable for placing in structures with congested reinforcement without vibration. Geopolymer concrete aims at utilizing the maximum amount of fly ash and reducing CO2 emission in the atmosphere by avoiding the use of cement to make concrete. In this study, twenty-seven samples were tested using the three types of concrete of different materials and admixtures which were locally available in the market. These were investigated by means of cost analysis and various laboratory tests specifically slump test and compressive strength test. A slump test was carried out during the concrete's fresh state while the compressive strength was tested at 7, 14, and 28 days after casting. It was concluded that in terms of the cost of materials and labor, self-compacting concrete has the largest cost, and geopolymer concrete is the cheapest among the three. For the workability, all three types of concrete obtained a collapsed slump indicating a high workability mix due to the addition of admixtures. However, it was found that none of the concrete samples passed the required compressive strength for the 7th, 14th, and 28th days due to some factors affecting the strength of the concrete. Among the three, self-compacting concrete developed the strength nearest to the required strength.