Performance of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Containing Expanded Polystyrene, Cinder and Silica Fume

Abstract

Lightweight aggregate concrete is developed by substituting normal weight aggregate either fully or partially based on required strength and density. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) bead is a type of low density material, which also has good energy-absorbing characteristics and can be used as light weight aggregate in concrete. In the present study, Structural lightweight aggregate concrete (SLWAC) was produced by fully replacing normal weight aggregate with combinations of EPS beads to Cinder by the ratio 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20 respectively and Silica fume was used as supplementary cementitious material. The resulting concrete had strength variation between 24.85 to 12.01 MPa, and the density variation of 1896 to 1664 kg/m3. Considering strength and density criteria 40:60 ratios was observed as the optimal mix. The Compressive strength acquired by concrete was inversely proportional to the volume of EPS beads. Effect of fibres on mechanical properties such as flexural strength, compressive strength, and split-tensile strength was investigated on optimal mix by using polypropylene fibres, it was observed that a 13.24% increase in flexural strength at 1% fibres, 8.41% increase in Compressive strength at 1% fibres and 23.11% increase in split-tensile strength at 1% fibres. Along with these, durability tests such as water absorption and permeability tests were performed, the performance of this concrete in water absorption test and permeability is well within the acceptable limits as the EPS ratio in the concrete increased, the absorption and depth of penetration values increased considerably. Microscopic observations were also made to study the interface amongst the cement paste and aggregates. It was revealed that silica fume has influenced significantly in bonding with EPS beads.