The effects of different fine and coarse pumice aggregate/cement ratios on the structural concrete properties without using any admixtures

Abstract

Structural lightweight concrete solves weight and durability problems in buildings and structures. In order to produce the high strength concrete in the civil engineering applications, lightweight concrete mixtures containing the fine pumice aggregate (FPA) from Nev°ehir region in Turkey and coarse pumice aggregate (CPA) from Yali Island in the Eastern Mediterranean were tested and the research findings were discussed in this paper. To analyse the effects of FPA and CPA/cement ratios on the structural concrete engineering properties, the range of different pumice aggregate/cement (A/C) ratios of 2:1, 2 1/2:1, 3:1, 3 1/2:1 and 4:1 by weight and cement contents of 440, 375, 320, 280 and 245 kg/m 3, respectively, were used to make pumice aggregate lightweight concrete (PALC) mixture testing samples with a slump of from 35 to 45 mm. The experimental research findings showed that PALC has strengths comparable to normal weight concrete, yet is typically 30–40% lighter. PALC showed the design flexibility and substantial cost savings by providing less dead load due to its lower density values. The properties, which increase in value and indicate the increasing quality with lower A/C ratios (high cement contents), are compressive strength, modulus of elasticity and density. Properties, which decrease in value and indicate the increasing quality, with lower A/C ratios are water absorption and carbonation depth. In all cases, lowering the A/C ratio (higher cement content) increases quality. The research showed that structural lightweight concrete can be produced by the use of fine and coarse pumice aggregates mixes without using any additions or admixtures.