Abstract
Synthetic lightweight aggregates (SLAs), composed of coal fly ash and recycled plastics, represent a resilient construction material that could be a key aspect to future sustainable development. This research focuses on a prediction of the elastic modulus of SLA, assumed as a homogenous and isotropic composite of particulates of fly ash and a matrix of polystyrene (PS). The elastic moduli of SLA with variable fly ash volume fractions are predicted based on finite element analyses (FEA) performed using the computer programs ABAQUS and PLAXIS. The effect of interface friction (roughness) between phases and other computation parameters - e.g., element type and boundary conditions - are included in these analyses. Analytical models provide a baseline for comparison. Overall, results indicate ABAQUS generates elastic moduli closer to those predicted by well-established analytical models than moduli predicted from PLAXIS, especially for SLAs with lower fly ash content. In addition, an increase in roughness between phases (from 10 to 90% roughness) produces up to 340% stiffer SLAs, especially as fly ash content increases. Future efforts will attempt to compare computational results to laboratory measurements of moduli.
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