Geopolymer as repairing material for historical monuments

Abstract

Architectural heritage preservation requires more attention to save historical buildings and monuments. However, around half of the construction and demolition waste consists of waste produced from the renovation. For that, the need for environmentally friendly materials is a necessity to replace cementitious materials, to decrease the environmental impact of renovation. This study aims to prove Geopolymer paste could be a potential alternative in renovating architectural elements in al-attar Mosque, Tripoli. Specimens with different applications were prepared and soaked in different harsh mediums, to test their compressive and shear strength. The experimental result shows that the Geopolymer binder is a good alternative to be used, holding good properties for compressive and shear strength. while the covered specimen with Geopolymer paste performs better in shear resistance. However, it can’t be applied in the case study because of the existing wall that is not possible to cover it from all its sides. But still, good potential to be used in other projects that are already designed for deconstruction, as it will preserve the environment by using eco-friendly materials.