User-Friendly Software System for Geopolymer Concrete Slump and Strength Prediction

Geopolymer concrete is a complex composite material and its properties such as workability and strength are incredibly unpredictable. A current unresolved issue is the lack of finding a standardized method for predicting the properties of geopolymer binders based on the ratios of mixing. Also, employing traditional testing techniques is expensive and time-consuming. Consequently, the objective herein is to resolve such issue. This paper describes the establishment of user-friendly software system that uses response surface methodology and central composite design to predict the workability and strength of geopolymer concrete. The software has an easy-to-use interface and was created in the MATLAB environment. Data about the mix proportion of geopolymer concrete blend and its properties, like workability and strength, could be imported into the software from an Excel file. The software developed linear and nonlinear empirical regression models to relate the constituents of the geopolymer concrete using response surface methodology. In addition, the system uses residual, mean square error, F-test, significant, and square correlation coefficient as quality fit parameters to identify the optimal model. Furthermore, the system offers the user a module for forecasting the performance of a specified mixed proportion. Thirty-one geopolymer mixes were prepared and used to calibrate the software. Another four mixes were used to validate the computation of the system. The principles of graphical user interface (GUI) design have been applied herein to produce a user-friendly software. These principles include balanced layout, grouping of related data, alignment, justification, highlighting as appropriate, and navigation control.