Influence of ultra-lightweight foamed glass aggregate on the strength aspects of lightweight concrete

Abstract

Foamed glass aggregate is a special type of ultra-lightweight aggregate which can be easily used to enhance the properties of concrete. Foamed glass aggregate is completely prepared from waste glass available from various sources where the waste glass from industries is dumped at regular intervals. Here in this present study foamed glass was used as part as well as a full replacement of natural fine Aggregate to modify and enhance the properties of the normal concrete to prepare lightweight concrete. This study was taken into more advanced aspect by taking different sizes of the foamed glass aggregate to predict the optimum size as well as the optimum replacement percentage of the foamed glass aggregate. The foamed glass was replaced from 0% to 100% at an interval of 20% each. Overall three sizes of foamed glass were taken into consideration for the study. Different types of tests such as compressive strength test, Flexural strength test, water absorption test, and at last scanning electron microscopy was performed over the prepared specimen to compare the properties of the lightweight concrete and the normal concrete. All these aspects improve the strength as well as durable properties of concrete to a new extent. The concept of lightweight concrete, as well as the ultra-lightweight concrete, is not very much implemented in modern aspects but it one must not forget its importance as lighter will the concrete lighter will be the dead load of the structure. Although the use of this concept is implemented over lightweight structures only but with the size variation in the study it can also be used for the medium weight structures. Foamed glass aggregate usage also took the load of the waste glass from the earth and it is needed environmental point of view .