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Effect of Cyclic Loading and Creep Deformation on Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Degradation of Rock-Like Geopolymer Materials
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DOI：10.1007/s00603-026-05847-8.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Rock-like geopolymer materials are increasingly regarded as sustainable construction materials for various engineering applications. However, their long-term mechanical performance under complex stress conditions remains insufficiently investigated. This study investigates the effect of cyclic loading and creep deformation on the mechanical property degradation of metakaolin-based geopolymer mortar (MKGM) in direct relation with the microstructure evolution. For this purpose, shrinkage deformation characterization, monotonic and cyclic triaxial compression tests, multistage creep tests, and microstructural analysis with integrated X-ray computed tomography (CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are carried out. The obtained main results show that drying shrinkage is dominated by rapid early-age moisture loss and significantly exceeds autogenous shrinkage, providing a nonlinear correlation between shrinkage and mass loss. During triaxial compression tests, increasing confining stress enhances peak failure strength and enhances material ductility. Cyclic loading induces a deterioration of both elastic stiffness and failure strength while promoting plastic strain accumulation. Creep deformation process induces time-dependent material damage and further lowers failure strength. The creep strain rate increases when deviatoric stress is higher. Accelerated creep deformation leading to time-dependent failure is observed when deviatoric stress exceeds a critical threshold. CT and SEM observations reveal progressive transition of failure morphology from localized narrow fracture zones under monotonic loading to distributed multiple crack networks under cyclic loading and finally to wide, pervasive through-going macro-fracture networks under creep loading, accompanied by increased damaged volume and broader crack distribution. These new findings provide a better understanding on the correlation between macroscopic mechanical performance deterioration and microstructure degradation of heterogeneous geopolymer composites.
Keywords:
Rock-like geopolymer mortar
Triaxial cyclic loading
Time-dependent deformation
Creep failure mechanism
Stiffness degradation
Autogenous and drying shrinkage
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