Promoting the green Construction: Scientometric review on the mechanical and structural performance of geopolymer concrete

Infrastructure is the basic human need in this modern world; however, the development of infrastructure is also associated with some detrimental impacts to the global environment. This is because of the use of some environment un-friendly materials in its construction e.g., Portland cement concrete (PCC). According to the studies, it is responsible for the emission of hazardous carbon dioxide (CO₂) and the consumption of some of the non-renewable natural resources of earth as its raw materials. Therefore, it is high time that world must shift towards some eco-friendly materials in the construction industry. Researchers have revealed such a material i.e., geopolymer concrete (GPC) that can provide an effective solution to this problem. It not only reduces the CO₂ emissions but also provides sustainable solution to the quickly depleting natural resources of earth. However, it is relatively a new material with very limited information being available about its behaviour. Although numerous research studies have been carried out in the past to explore GPC, but they are still not enough to make it an industrial material. This review aims to provide critical assessment of the mechanical and structural performance of GPC by conducting the scientometric analysis of its existing literature as it provides more representative, comprehensive, and reliable results that are not affected by the one's insight. It is also aimed to provide future researchers with a clear research gap working on which GPC can be made capable of being adopted by the construction industry. On the basis of scientometric and conventional review results, it was concluded that GPC can be considered as a possible potential alternate to the PCC possessing either similar or better structural and mechanical properties. Based on the review analysis, future researchers are recommended to focus more on the long-term characteristics of GPC.