Investigating an Optimum Mixing Method to Produce Foam Concrete Fulfilling the Workability, Density, Shrinkage, Strength and Total Volume

Abstract

Production of foamed concrete may encounter segregation, shrinkage and poor strength. The nature of mix is flowable but must maintain homogeneity of both foam and sand particles. One of the reasons for these problems is the difficulty in mixing method. Two mixing techniques, wet and dry mixing methods, were investigated and resulting properties recorded. Five main properties characterized a foamed concrete mix and these are density, workability, shrinkage, strength and total volume. The first mixing method, wet mixing method, tend to have segregation and shrinkage problems. The target density was difficult to achieve. The second mixing method, dry mixing method, proved to achieve target density easily and lesser shrinkage problem. The dry mixing method proved to produce foamed concrete with specific target density and workability.