The Effect of Curing Conditions on Permeation of Self-Compacting Lightweight Concrete with Basaltic Pumice Aggregate

Abstract

This paper introduces an experimental research about the influences of the curing type on accelerated carbonation, capillary water absorption and permeability of a range of different self-compacting lightweight concrete (SCLC) mixtures in comparison with those of chosen conventional vibrated lightweight concrete (LC) and self-compacting concrete (SCC). Seven different concrete compositions are considered: four SCLC, two SCC and one LC mixtures. All of the SCLC mixtures and one of the SCC and one LC mixture with a constant powder dosage of $$550\,\hbox {kg}/\hbox {m}^{3}$$ was designed to be containing $$440\,\hbox {kg}/\hbox {m}^{3}$$ of cement and $$110\,\hbox {kg}/\hbox {m}^{3}$$ of fly ash. The other SCC mix was designed to have lower cement dosage for similar strength characteristic. Basaltic pumice aggregate of the SCLC was replaced with expanded perlite aggregate by 10, 20 and 30%. All mixtures were cured by two different curing types. Among the permeability properties of the samples, permeability, capillary water absorption and carbonation properties were measured. The results showed that the production of SCLC mixture as the result of the use of basaltic pumice and expanded perlite seems to be possible. The density of SCLC with basaltic pumice and expanded perlite was about $$1900\,\hbox {kg}/\hbox {m}^{3}$$ , while the density of SCC was $$2300\,\hbox {kg}/\hbox {m}^{3}$$ . Generally, permeation properties of SCLC such as carbonation and capillary water absorption got worse, since the porous aggregate was used. However, SCLC’s compressive strength per density was more efficient than SCC’s.