Nowadays, one of the most desirable alternatives to cement-based composites is the alkali-activated blends which can be towards achieving more durable materials. In alkali-activated slag/PUMICE (AASP) mortars, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) could be replaced partially with Volcanic PUMICE powder (VPP) as a natural pozzolan; however, its performance in alkali-activated slag/PUMICE (AASP) mortars against mineral acid environments are currently missing in the literature. In this paper, the durability of AASP mortars containing 0 or 10% VPP activated by the combination of sodium silicate with NaOH or KOH exposed to a high concentration of sulphuric and nitric acids were investigated. In addition to flowability, capillary water absorption, and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests, deterioration due to the mineral acid attack was examined using visual condition assessment, mass loss, compressive strength change, and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). A comparison was also performed with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar specimens as a reference mixture. It was found that the AASP mortars are more durable than a corresponding OPC mortar in terms of mass and compressive strength changes in sulphuric and nitric acid solutions. Generally, employing 10% VPP exhibited no significant effect on the durability of AASP mortars against mineral acid attack. In addition, utilizing NaOH alkali activator could be a better choice in exposure to sulphuric acid, but in nitric acid solution, KOH-activated samples revealed better durability in terms of mass and compressive strength change.

Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) has been widely used due to its advantages over plain concrete such as high energy absorption, post cracking behaviour, flexural and impact strength and arresting shrinkage cracks. But there is a weak zone between fibers and paste in fiber reinforced concretes and this weak zone is full of porosity, especially in hybrid fiber reinforced concretes. So it is necessary to apply a material that reduces porosity and consolidates this transition zone. In this research first, the flexural and impact resistance tests were carried out on hybrid fiber reinforced concretes to choose the optimum percentage of steel and polypropylene fibers based on flexural toughness, modulus of rupture and impact resistance. Finally, compressive strength tests were conducted on selected hybrid fiber reinforced concretes containing PUMICE and metakaolin to choose the better pozzolan and replacement level based on compressive strength test. Results showed that, metakaolin with 15% substitution for cement had a significant role in increasing compressive strength. However, PUMICE did not act on the same basis.

Lightweight aggregate concretes are widely incorporated in construction and development.This study, presents an experimental investigation on the properties of volcanic PUMICE lightweight aggregates concretes. To this end, two groups of lightweight concretes (lightweight coarse with natural fine aggregates concrete, and lightweight coarse and fine aggregates concrete) are built and the physical/mechanical and durability aspects of them are studied. The results of compressive strength, tensile strength and drying shrinkage show that these lightweight concretes meet the requirements of the structural lightweight concrete.Also, the cement content is recognized as a paramount parameter in the performance of lightweight aggregate concretes.

Open graded asphalt is used as a wearing course to provide both increased safety in wet weather (through reduced surface water and spray during rain) and reduced noise levels. In this study, PUMICE aggregates were applied as a portion of fine aggregate for the improvement of dynamical specification of porous asphalt and the Cantabro, Los Angeles abrasion, and the bitumen precipitation tests were conducted. First, the amount of optimized bitumen related to each of the three types of aggregates and fine PUMICE has been estimated, then the properties of the Marshall Resistance and indirect tensile strength have been assigned. Mixtures with 5 percent of fine PUMICE has shown better characteristics in Marshall test as well as indirect tensile strength. Also, the results of dynamic creep test showed that the rutting potential decreased by using PUMICE aggregate. There is the best amount of permanent deformation for mixtures containing 5% PUMICE.

Solute transport parameters, similar to soil's physical and chemical properties, can be affected by the presence of organic and mineral soil conditioners. In this study, the effect of different levels (0, 3, and 6 weight percent) of the inexpensive and easily accessible PUMICE conditioner on the parameters of bromide transport in sandy loam soil columns (diameter and height of 10 cm) was investigated. The transport parameters were estimated based on the BreakThrough Curves (BTCs) by the inverse modeling of the Convection-Dispersion Equation (CDE) and the mobile-immobile model (MIM) using the CXTFIT software. The BTCs showed that bromide transport in the sandy loam soil columns, regardless of the presence of PUMICE was mainly equilibrium, and the CDE was more efficient than the MIM, which is based on non-Fickian and non-equilibrium transport. The peak of the BTCs (maximum relative concentration) was lower in the treatments containing PUMICE and belonged to more pore volume than the controlled treatment did. This indicates a lack of preferential flow and thus, a reduction in the amount of bromide consumed in the treatments containing PUMICE. The increase in PUMICE content did not have a significant effect on the parameters of mobile water fraction (𝛽, ) and mass transfer coefficient (𝜔, ) in the MIM, confirming the equilibrium transport of bromide. A 3% increase in the PUMICE content in the soil caused an increase and a decrease of 47% in dispersivity (𝜆, ) and Peclet number (Pe), respectively. In general, it can be concluded that the use of PUMICE in field conditions can prevent water loss and nutrients and reduce groundwater contamination by reducing preferential paths.