## 1 Introduction
It was found that reinforcing the specimens with either of the fibers improved both types of strengths, with steel fibers having a better ability to dissipate stress during three-point bending tests, and samples with melamine fibers were shown to increase resistance to axial compression. In addition, the use of optimal curing regimes resulted in further improvements in the mechanical properties [22; 37]. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [20] reported that the temperature pertaining to the curing regime is critical for the development of strength in GP-based concretes, with acceptable levels of initial strength were obtained when samples were subjected to higher temperatures above room temperature. Other studies have also shown that curing test samples at higher temperatures of 60-70 \({}^{\circ}\)C increased the compressive strength along with lower permeability level attributes [9; 38]. Experiments were also carried out to gauge the effects of temperature on the strengths of the test specimens; for instance, at ambient and 60 \({}^{\circ}\)C for 24 h [39]. Through the current study, it was identified that generally hot curing conditions were most suited, with samples producing higher strength readings compared to samples subjected to ambient-temperature curing. Unlike ordinary cement-based concretes, GP-based concretes generally require high-temperature curing to achieve the bonding between constituent molecules, and hence result in the formation of a stronger microstructures [40]. However, it was also found that curing at very high temperatures of (i.e., typically over 90 \({}^{\circ}\)C) had an adverse effect on the development of desirable physical properties. For instance, the compressive strengths of specimens cured above 90 \({}^{\circ}\)C were found to be noticeably reduced in comparison to specimens cured at temperatures below 90 \({}^{\circ}\)C. This was assumed to be due to the continuous loss of moisture during curing at elevated temperatures, which also led to shrinkage cracks due to excessive drying, thus, producing weaker specimens [41]. It was reported that ambient temperature curing of GP-based concrete tends to produce low strength specimens in the initial phases [42]; however, these specimens significantly gain strength with time. Furthermore, it was noted that by increasing the curing time to at least 20 h, the rate of the geopolymerization reaction could be enhanced, thus producing specimens with improved strengths [42]. The report also indicated that while curing GP-based materials at temperatures between 40-80 \({}^{\circ}\)C did achieve the optimum compressive strength readings, it was also necessary to cure specimens for longer periods to obtain enhanced mechanical properties such as compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths [16; 17; 18; 43]. In addition, GP-based materials are reported to have achieved almost their full compressive strength during the first 24-48 h after casting and heat curing. This can be attributed to the achievement of the near complete polymerization process, and any further curing can only result in diminished returns [40; 41; 44; 45]. Apart from its initial strength, GP-based concretes are also known to behave exceptionally well in high temperature/fire scenarios. For instance, when test samples (FA-based GP concrete) were heated up to 750 \({}^{\circ}\)C, they revealed the good strength characteristics of the test specimens at elevated temperatures compared to counterparts made from conventional concrete [46]. In another study by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [47], the residual mass loss properties and residual strengths of FA-based GP concretes (with low calcium contents) and mortars were monitored after they were exposed up to 500 \({}^{\circ}\)C. It was shown that the test specimens displayed 84% more strength in comparison with OPC-based counter parts.