Performance optimisation of alkali-activated UHPC for sustainable masonry units: effects of activators, retarders and curing regimes

Key Points

• The aim is to optimize the performance of alkali-activated ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) for sustainable masonry units.
• Evaluated effects of different activators and retarders on UHPC performance.
• Assessed various curing regimes to determine optimal settings.
• Conducted experiments using standardized performance metrics.
• Increased compressive strength observed with specific activators, with a significant improvement (p<0.05).
• Optimal curing regime enhanced durability, reducing water absorption rates by 30% (p=0.01).
• Significant reduction in carbon footprint by using alkali activators compared to traditional methods.