The increased awareness of sustainability and concerns about global warming have prompted the construction industry to explore green sustainable materials such as geopolymer composites as an eco-friendly alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). This study developed ambient-cured lightweight geopolymer composites (LWGPCs) by incorporating different volume fractions of expanded clay (EC). The physical and quasi-static characteristics of LWGPCs with various EC contents were investigated. Empirical formulae for the quasi-static compressive and splitting tensile strength, as well as the elastic modulus of LWGPCs were proposed. A Ø 100-mm split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system was employed to investigate the dynamic compressive and splitting tensile properties of LWGPCs. The failure processes and failure patterns of LWGPCs, as well as the stress–strain curves and the energy absorption capacities under different strain rates were compared. Based on the testing results, empirical formulae of the DIF (dynamic increase factor) for LWGPCs compressive and split tensile strength as well as the energy absorption capacities were proposed. This study offers valuable insights into the material performance of ambient-cured LWGPCs with EC as sustainable materials under quasi-static and dynamic loading, paving the way for further developing and application of lightweight and sustainable engineering materials in construction.

中文翻译：

---

轻质常温固化地质聚合物复合材料与膨胀粘土：准静态和动态特性

人们对可持续发展意识的增强以及对全球变暖的担忧促使建筑行业探索绿色可持续材料，例如地质聚合物复合材料，作为普通波特兰水泥（OPC）的环保替代品。这项研究通过掺入不同体积分数的膨胀粘土（EC）开发了常温固化的轻质地质聚合物复合材料（LWGPC）。研究了不同EC含量的LWGPC的物理和准静态特性。提出了 LWGPC 的准静态压缩强度和劈裂拉伸强度以及弹性模量的经验公式。采用 Ø 100 毫米分裂霍普金森压力棒 (SHPB) 系统来研究 LWGPC 的动态压缩和分裂拉伸性能。比较了LWGPC的失效过程和失效模式，以及不同应变率下的应力应变曲线和能量吸收能力。根据测试结果，提出了LWGPCs抗压强度、劈裂抗拉强度以及能量吸收能力的DIF（动态增加系数）经验公式。这项研究为常温固化 LWGPC 和 EC 作为可持续材料在准静态和动态载荷下的材料性能提供了宝贵的见解，为轻质和可持续工程材料在建筑中的进一步开发和应用铺平了道路。