Research Information System
STRUCTURAL CONCRETE, vol.22, no.5, pp.3173-3188, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Heritage masonry constructions constitute an important percentage of the structures in many countries. These structures are highly vulnerable to environmental changes (such as earthquakes), and significant losses in masonry historical constructions occur even in a moderate earthquake. For this reason, damage assessment studies of these structures before earthquakes are of great importance. After an earthquake, historical buildings in Turkey were examined and it was found that many buildings underwent damage. In these structures, damage occurs during the earthquake due to the use of low-quality materials and a lack of sufficient connections between the layers. In these buildings, damage especially occurs in the parts that undergo restoration. Since low-strength repair mortars are generally used in the restored sections, wide cracks have occurred in the building elements under the effect of earthquakes. This study aimed to produce alternative materials that could be used as geopolymer binders in restorated buildings. The mechanical, physical, and microstructural characteristics of the geopolymer samples were investigated in detail using laboratory tests. As a result, the strength of geopolymer repair materials with 8 M and 5% calcium hydroxide (Ca[OH](2)) was very high when compared with other values. High-strength compatible alternative geopolymer repair mortars that could be used for restoration were produced. For this reason, mortar is considered a significant application for repairing and strengthening buildings.