scholarly journals Preparation and Characterization of Ultra-Lightweight Foamed Concrete Incorporating Lightweight Aggregates

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abd Elrahman ◽  
Mohamed El Madawy ◽  
Sang-Yeop Chung ◽  
Pawel Sikora ◽  
Dietmar Stephan

Increasing interest is nowadays being paid to improving the thermal insulation of buildings in order to save energy and reduce ecological problems. Foamed concrete has unique characteristics and considerable potential as a promising material in construction applications. It is produced with a wide range of dry densities, between 600 and 1600 kg/m3. However, at a low density below 500 kg/m3, it tends to be unstable in its fresh state while exhibiting high drying shrinkage in its hardened state. In this study, lightweight aggregate-foamed concrete mixtures were prepared by the addition of preformed foam to a cement paste and aggregate. The focus of the research is the influence of fly ash, as well as fine lightweight aggregate addition, on the properties of foamed concrete with a density lower than 500 kg/m3. Concrete properties, including stability and consistency in the fresh state as well as thermal conductivity and mechanical properties in the hardened state, were evaluated in this study. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the microstructure of the foamed concrete. Several mixes with the same density were prepared and tested. The experimental results showed that under the same bulk density, incorporation of fine lightweight aggregate has a significant role on compressive strength development, depending on the characteristics of the lightweight aggregate. However, thermal conductivity is primarily related to the dry density of foamed concrete and only secondarily related to the aggregate content. In addition, the use of fine lightweight aggregate significantly reduces the drying shrinkage of foamed concrete. The results achieved in this work indicate the important role of lightweight aggregate on the stability of low-density foamed concrete, in both fresh and hardened states.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abd Elrahman ◽  
Pawel Sikora ◽  
Sang-Yeop Chung ◽  
Dietmar Stephan

AbstractThis paper aims to investigate the feasibility of the incorporation of nanosilica (NS) in ultra-lightweight foamed concrete (ULFC), with an oven-dry density of 350 kg/m3, in regard to its fresh and hardened characteristics. The performance of various dosages of NS, up to 10 wt.-%, were examined. In addition, fly ash and silica fume were used as cement replacing materials, to compare their influence on the properties of foamed concrete. Mechanical and physical properties, drying shrinkage and the sorption of concrete were measured. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray microcomputed tomography (µ-CT) and a probabilistic approach were implemented to evaluate the microstructural changes associated with the incorporation of different additives, such as wall thickness and pore anisotropy of produced ULFCs. The experimental results confirmed that the use of NS in optimal dosage is an effective way to improve the stability of foam bubbles in the fresh state. Incorporation of NS decrease the pore anisotropy and allows to produce a foamed concrete with increased wall thickness. As a result more robust and homogenous microstructure is produced which translate to improved mechanical and transport related properties. It was found that replacement of cement with 5 wt.-% and 10 wt.-% NS increase the compressive strength of ULFC by 20% and 25%, respectively, when compared to control concrete. The drying shrinkage of the NS-incorporated mixes was higher than in the control mix at early ages, while decreasing at 28 d. In overall, it was found that NS is more effective than other conventional fine materials in improving the stability of fresh mixture as well as enhancing the strength of foamed concrete and reducing its porosity and sorption.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
Felix A. Oginni ◽  
Samuel N. John

A study of the technology of foamed concrete production is carried out. The engineering properties and applications of this type of concrete are presented for varying densities so as to effectively tap the advantages of its use for specific purposes. The properties considered are the 7-day compressive strength, thermal conductivity, modulus of elasticity and drying shrinkage. A study of the behaviours of foamed concrete at varying dry densities for the different characteristics was undertaken. Results indicate that as the dry density increases, the engineering properties increase though at different rates for the 7-day Compressive strength, Thermal conductivity, and Modulus of elasticity. The drying shrinkage decreases as the dry density increases. A comparative study of the 7-day Compressive strength and Modulus of elasticity show that they both follow the same trend over the varying dry density except at a dry density of 1200 kg/m3. A comparative study of the thermal conductivity and the percent drying shrinkage indicate that the thermal conductivity is inversely proportional to the percent drying shrinkage. Economics and other considerations together with its multipurpose applications of foamed concrete can open up business opportunities in Africa and sustainability. This can also help in providing needed funds for infrastructural development.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 3596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuzhi Zhang ◽  
Qing Yang ◽  
Qinfei Li ◽  
Heng Chen ◽  
Guofa Zheng ◽  
...  

Foamed concrete materials based on sulpoaluminate cement were prepared by the chemical foaming method. The effects of water–cement ratio, foaming agent, and foaming stabilizer on the mechanical and thermal properties of foamed concrete were studied. Meanwhile, a portion of cement was replaced with foamed phenolic particles to further optimize the performance of foamed concrete; the results show that when the water–cement ratio was 0.53, the foaming agent content was 5%, the foam stabilizer was 1%, and the substitution of phenolic particles was 20%, the performance indexes of foamed concrete were the best. Methods, describing briefly the main methods or treatments applied: dry density was 278.4 kg/m3, water absorption was 19.9%, compressive strength was 3.01 MPa, and thermal conductivity was 0.072 W/(m·K). By the pore structure analysis of the foamed concrete suing Micro-CT, it was found that when the replacement amount of phenolic particles was 20%, the pore size of foamed concrete was relatively uniform, the minimum D90 was 225 μm respectively. The combination of organic and inorganic matrix and optimized pore structure improved the performance of foamed concrete.


2018 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 02024
Author(s):  
Waleed Abbas ◽  
Wasan Khalil ◽  
Ibtesam Nasser

Due to the rapid depletion of natural resources, the use of waste materials and by-products from different industries of building construction has been gaining increased attention. Geopolymer concrete based on Pozzolana is a new material that does not need the presence of Portland cement as a binder. The main focus of this research is to produce lightweight geopolymer concrete (LWGPC) using artificial coarse lightweight aggregate which produced from locally available bentonite clays. In this investigation, the binder is low calcium fly ash (FA) and the alkali activator is sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate in different molarities. The experimental tests including workability, fresh density, also, the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, water absorption and ultrasonic pulse velocity at the age of 7, 28 and 56 days were studied. The oven dry density and thermal conductivity at 28 days age are investigated. The results show that it is possible to produce high strength lightweight geopolymer concrete successfully used as insulated structural lightweight concrete. The 28-day compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, dry density, and thermal conductivity of the produced LWGPC are 35.8 MPa, 2.6MPa, 5.5 MPa, 1835kg/m3, and 0.9567 W/ (m. K), respectively.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaoming PANG ◽  
Xinxin MENG ◽  
Chunpeng ZHANG ◽  
Jinlong PAN

Abstract Shrinkage of foam concrete can easily cause cracking and thus makes it difficult for a manufacturer to maintain quality. The density of lightweight aggregate concrete is too high to meet specifications for lightweight and thermal insulation for wallboard. Two types of concrete with dry density in the range 1000–1200 kg/m3 for use in wallboard were designed and prepared using foam and lightweight aggregate. The properties of porous lightweight aggregate concrete with core-shell non-sintered lightweight aggregate were compared with sintered lightweight aggregate concrete along with several dimensions. The two aggregates were similar in particle size, density, and strength. The effects of each aggregate on the workability, compressive strength, dry shrinkage, and thermal conductivity of the lightweight concrete were analyzed and compared. Pore structures were determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry and X-ray computed tomography. Compressive strength ranged from 7.8 to 11.8 MPa, and thermal conductivity coefficients ranged from 0.193 to 0.219 W/m/K for both types of concrete. The results showed that the core-shell non-sintered lightweight aggregate bonded better with the paste matrix at the interface transition zone and had a better pore structure than the sintered lightweight aggregate concrete. Slump flow of the core-shell non-sintered lightweight aggregate concrete was about 20% greater than that of the sintered lightweight aggregate concrete, 28d compressive strength was about 10% greater, drying shrinkage was about 10% less, and thermal conductivity was less. Porous lightweight aggregate concrete using core-shell non-sintered lightweight aggregate performs well when used in wallboard because of its low density, high thermal insulation, and improved strength.


2017 ◽  
Vol 727 ◽  
pp. 1062-1066
Author(s):  
Hui Chao Chu ◽  
Xian Jun Lyu ◽  
Yan Zhang

A study has been undertaken to investigate the effects, on the properties of foamed concrete, of replacing large volumes of cement with fly ash. This paper reports the results of the properties of foamed concrete and shows that up to 55% of the cement could be replaced without any significant reduction in compressive strength. Foamed concrete with 55% fly ash and good performance were obtained by optimizing the process parameters. The results showed that the compressive strength, dry density, water absorption and thermal conductivity of foamed concrete with 55% fly ash were 0.71MPa, 244kg/m3, 33%, and 0.045 W/mK respectively.


2010 ◽  
Vol 160-162 ◽  
pp. 821-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Qing Zhao ◽  
Jun Qin Liu ◽  
Qian Li ◽  
Hao Li

An ecotype of foamed concrete was prepared from activated fly ash/slag blended cement, a kind of low carbon cement, through physical foaming and hydrothermal curing process. The optimized material proportion and curing conditions were obtained with the aid of orthogonal array technique: activated fly ash/slag blended cement-600 kg and foaming agent-1kg for per cubic meter formed concrete, curing at 60°C for 6 hours. The density and compressive strength of the foamed concrete prepared in this method were 644kg/m3 and 4.5MP respectively, and with lower drying shrinkage and thermal conductivity, good freezing and thawing characteristics.


2014 ◽  
Vol 692 ◽  
pp. 486-489
Author(s):  
Kyung Ho Lee ◽  
Keun Hyeok Yang

The present study tested six concrete mixes to develop a high-performance foamed concrete without using high-pressure steam curing processes, as an alternative to autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks. Dry density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity of foamed concrete were measured according to the variation of unit binder content. Test result showed that dry denstiy, compressive strength and thermal conductivity of foamed concrete incresed with the increase in the unit binder content. The compressive strength of tested foamed concrete was commonly higher than that of conventional foamed concrete with the same dry density.


Author(s):  
Taylana Piccinini Scolaro ◽  
Janaíde Cavalcante Rocha

abstract: Self-leveling mortars (SLM) have a high filler content in their composition to achieve fluidity, without component separation. These mortars are mainly used in floor systems and have a large area exposed to the external environment, which facilitates water loss and increases the risk of cracking due to drying shrinkage. This study, in order to verify the influence of filler on the production of SLMs, used for comparative effect, quartz filler (QF) and crushed basalt filler (BF), in addition to limestone filler (LF), in contents of 5%, 10% and 20% of the mass of total solid. For that purpose, the tests of spreading in the fresh state and flexural strength, compressive strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, drying shrinkage and desorption isotherm in the hardened state were carried out. SLMs microstructure was evaluated through isothermal calorimetry. The results show that the use of LF provides higher compressive strengths (up to 18% and 14% higher than QF and BF, respectively, in the first ages, and up to 13% and 22% higher than QF and BF, respectively, at 28 days), probably due to the better physical effect of this filler. In formulations with 20% of filler, LF and QF SLMs showed lower shrinkage when compared to BF SLMs (shrinkage 44% higher than LF mixture and 64% higher than QF mixture). It is concluded that the ideal content of filler to be used in SLMs must be between 10% and 20% of the mass of total solid and varies according to the filler.


2018 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
pp. 03008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashfaque Ahmed Jhatial ◽  
Wan Inn Goh ◽  
Noridah Mohamad ◽  
U. Johnson Alengaram ◽  
Kim Hung Mo

With the reduction in the permanent load on the structure and excellent insulation properties, the lightweight foamed concrete is a potential thermal insulating building material to counter the urban heat island effect, which increases the temperature of urban areas due to the concentration of infrastructures constructed using conventional concrete that absorbs the solar radiation. The lightweight foamed concrete whose dry density ranges from 400 kg/m3 to 1600 kg/m3, has lower thermal conductivity compared to conventional concrete. But reduced density attributes to reduced compressive strength. In this study, to enhance the mechanical properties, the foamed concrete of 1600 kg/m3 density is reinforced with polypropylene fibres (PP). Four percentages of PP fibres, 0% (controlled), 0.2%, 0.25% and 0.30% were added into the foamed concrete. The compressive strength as well as the thermal conductivity of foamed concrete reinforced with PP fibres were determined. Based upon the findings, the optimum percentage of PP was determined to be 0.20% which gave higher compressive strength while thermal conductivity of foamed concrete was observed to decrease upon addition of PP fibres. Thus, addition of PP fibres improves the thermal resistance in the foamed concrete along with enhancing the mechanical properties.


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