Experimental research on the performance of lightweight concrete containing foam and expanded clay aggregate

Abstract

This work addresses the preparation of self-flowing lightweight aggregate foamed concrete (LAFC) resulting from the mixing of stable foam, expanded clay aggregate (ECA) and silica fume (SF) as main raw materials. Formulated LAFC mixtures were tested for the mechanical, thermal, sorption and high-temperature resistance properties. Results showed that the increase in the volume of foam from 0% to 20% considerably improved the flowability of LAFC and LAFC mixtures were categorized into high stable visual stability index. Compressive strength of LAFC mixtures was reduced from 24.75 MPa to 21.10, 15.95 and 12.05 MPa respectively when foam volume was increased from 0% to 10, 15 and 20%. Thermal conductivity of LAFC mixtures was 0.84, 0.77, 0.65 and 0.53 Wm−1K−1 for the 0, 10, 15 and 20% foam volume respectively. The addition of SF enhanced the strength and thermal conductivity of LAFC mixtures. Sorption coefficient and porosity of LAFC were gradually increased from 0.22 to 0.85 kgm−2min−0.5 and 25.68–39.74% by increasing the volume of foam from 0% to 20%. However, incorporation of SF reduced the sorptivity and porosity of LAFC. Effect of high temperature was more prominent on the compressive strength of LAFC as compared to the density of LAFC.