Performance of Ternary Class F Pulverised Fuel Ash and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Concrete in Sulfate Solutions

Durability of concrete is defined as its ability to resist deterioration after it has been exposed to the environment of its intended use. This work examined the performance of combined (ternary) Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) concrete in sulfate solutions of sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and mixed Na2SO4 and MgSO4, as well as its performance in water absorption. Investigations were carried out on replacements that were found to have achieved the highest compressive strengths as well as on 30% replacements from a previous study. From the results obtained, it was also found that at highest compressive strengths, the ternary concrete could be used with an advantage over the individual binary concretes in MgSO4 environments, whereas at a higher replacement, the ternary concrete could be used with an advantage over individual binary specimens in Na2SO4 and MgSO4 environments. For visual observations, it was concluded that the ternary concrete could be used with an advantage over the individual binary concretes in Na2SO4 and MgSO4 environments, whereas for strength deterioration, the results showed that the ternary specimens could be used with an advantage over individual binary concretes in both the MgSO4 and the mixed sulfate solutions. Generally, the ternary specimens showed some complimentary effect from the two materials.