Lightweight Self-Compacting Concrete Incorporating Perlite, Scoria, and Polystyrene Aggregates

Abstract

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a highly fluid form of concrete that can consolidate under its own weight, thereby reducing the need of any mechanical compaction processes. Lightweight concrete (LWC), which incorporates the use of lightweight aggregates, can reduce the density of the concrete and therefore the potential associated dead loads. In recent decades, there have been numerous studies in the production of lightweight self-compacting concrete (LWSCC) that aim to combine the benefits of both SCC and LWC. Due to the various lightweight aggregates and their different material characteristics, it is imperative to assess whether the properties of both concretes still apply when using different lightweight aggregates. This paper aims to develop information about the fresh and hardened properties of lightweight self-compacting concrete using perlite, scoria, and polystyrene lightweight aggregates at varying replacement percentages. The fresh properties were investigated using the slump flow, T500, and J-ring tests. Hardened properties include 7- and 28-day compressive and tensile strengths, and compressive stress-strain behavior at 28 days.