Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lightweight Concrete
Definitions:
Lightweight concrete has a maximum density of 1900 kg/m3 and is achieved by using low-density aggregates. Intermediate-density concretes, where part or all the normal-density coarse aggregates are replaced with structural-grade low-density aggregates, have densities of 1900-2200 kg/m3.
Pioneering applications:
Building of ships and barges by the US, during the Second World War. High-rise construction (since 1929, in the US) Offshore structures (since 1908s)
LWC Types
The pre-wetting is done before or during stockpiling. Alternatively, the aggregates are mixed with about twothirds of the mix water for several minutes before the rest of the components of the concrete are added and mixed.
This gives better performance during pumping and lower slump loss during transportation.
LWC
Properties
LWC: Durability
Performance record:
A ship, the USS Selma, was cast with low-density concrete in 1919. It is now in the Galveston Harbour.
The 12 to 30 mm cover was effective in preventing the corrosion of the steel reinforcement.
Original strength of the concrete was 28 MPa, and the density was 1760 kg/m3. Cores taken in 1980 gave compressive strengths of more than 55 MPa. Microscopy has revealed that the aggregate-mortar interface has not been penetrated by sea water.
Fractured surface of concrete from the USS Selma, showing aggregate on left and mortar on right (micrograph width = 550 microns)
Ultra-Lightweight Concretes
Concretes with densities of less than 1100 kg/m3 and compressive strengths of less than about 7 MPa:
Concretes with expanded or other very low density aggregates, such as expanded polystyrene, perlite, blast-furnace slag and vermiculite and rubber particles. Aerated or cellular concrete made with large-diameter (0.1-1 mm) voids incorporating a foam in cement paste or mortar, or generating a foam by a chemical reaction (e.g., by using fine aluminium powder). Used for insulating fills, conduit linings, fire walls and non-structural panels.
References
http://www.escsi.org http://www.pumice.ca Concrete, S. Mindess & J.F. Young, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA, 1981 High-Performance Concrete, P.-C. Atcin, E&FN Spon, London, 1998 Properties of Concrete, A.M. Neville, Pearson Education, Delhi, 2004
Concrete Technology, A.M. Neville & J.J. Brooks, Pearson Education, Delhi, 2004
ACI Materials Journal Concrete International Journal, ACI