Cellular Lightweight Concrete Research Articles

Utilization of fly ash and bottom ash from TanjungJati B Coal-Fired Power Plant in Jepara, Central Java, on the quality of cellular lightweight concrete

The research aims to address waste-related issues by producing Cellular Lightweight Concrete (CLC) bricks using fly ash and bottom ash as fine aggregates. The variations used encompass cement, fly ash, bottom ash, and sand compositions. The ratio between cement and fine aggregates utilized is 1:3. The variations in the composition of fine aggregates include P (100% sand), F (100% fly ash), B (100% bottom ash), F1B1 (50% fly ash and 50% bottom ash), F1B2 (33.3% fly ash and 66.7% bottom ash), F1B3 (25% fly ash and 75% bottom ash), F2B1 (6.7% fly ash and 33.3% bottom ash), and F3B1 (25% fly ash and 75% bottom ash). The parameters employed comprise compressive strength testing, density, and water absorption evaluation of the CLC bricks at ages 14, 28, and 35 days, also thermal conductivity at the 35-days sample. The sample age exhibits a proportional relationship with compressive strength and water absorption, while displaying an inverse relationship with density. At the 35-day sample age, the F composition demonstrates the highest compressive strength (14.74MPa) and the lowest water absorption (11%). Meanwhile, the B composition exhibits a compressive strength value of 5.9MPa and the lowest density (1.12g/cm2). Conversely, the P composition showcases the highest density (1.59g/cm2). Density affects thermal conductivity, the lower the density, the lower the thermal conductivity, which means that the heat conductivity will be smaller.

Improving the lateral load resistance capacity of cellular lightweight concrete (CLC) block masonry walls through ferrocement overlay

Cellular lightweight concrete (CLC) block masonry is an eco-friendly building material gaining popularity in both developed and developing countries. Despite its increasing use, the material's behavior under seismic loading remains insufficiently understood. This research involved quasi-static testing of two full-scale CLC blocks masonry walls strengthened with ferrocement overlay. One of the strengthened walls was subjected to confinement, while the other was unconfined. The aim was to assess their seismic performance by comparing force deformation curves, damping, stiffness degradation, and structural performance levels with non-strengthened walls. The findings indicate that the strengthened masonry outperformed the unreinforced version, suggesting that CLC block masonry exhibits potential for effective performance in low to moderate seismic zones.

Strengthening Mechanism of Geopolymer Lightweight Cellular Concrete Reinforced with Glass Fibers

Strengthening Mechanism of Geopolymer Lightweight Cellular Concrete Reinforced with Glass Fibers

Experimental Study on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Cellular Concrete Specimens Cast in Field and Laboratory

This paper presents a series of laboratory tests for evaluating the material properties of Lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) with different cement-to-fly ash ratios and at different ages. LCC specimens used in this study were cast in the field and/or laboratory. Large and small direct shear box tests were used to determine the shear strengths of LCC specimens. The test results show that the average wet densities for the LCC specimens cast in the laboratory ranged from 460 to 491 kg/m3, whereas the average wet densities for the specimens cast in the field ranged from 480 to 578 kg/m3 at the age of 28 days. The permeability values for the LCC specimens cast in the field ranged from 5.4 × 10-7 to 7.7 × 10-6 m/s and the permeability values for the LCC specimens cast in the laboratory ranged from 6.8 × 10-7 to 2.5 × 10-6 m/s. The measured peak friction angles of the LCC specimens from the small direct shear box tests ranged from 19° to 63°, whereas the measured peak friction angles of the LCC specimens from large direct shear box tests ranged from 23° to 79°. The average measured compressive strengths for the LCC specimens cast in the field and laboratory ranged from 0.43 to 1.15 MPa and 1.08 to 1.11 MPa at the age of 28 days, respectively. LCC specimens showed shrinkage behavior when subjected to wet–dry cycles and had good resistance to freeze–thaw cycles following ASTM D560/560M. The paper also compares the material properties of LCC measured in this study with those reported in the literature and the comparison shows good agreement overall.

Experimental Contribution to Study the Physico-Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Lightweight Cellular Concrete Prepared With Different Types of Sand and Waste Marble Powder

Abstract Algeria is currently undergoing an evolution in civil engineering, which has resulted in a higher use of aggregates, especially sand. This study contributes to the development of locally produced materials. Its goal is to explore how the type of sand and waste marble powder (WMP), which can be used as a partial replacement of cement and aluminum powder (Al) with different percentages as an expansive agent, can affect physico-mechanical properties such as the bulk density and mechanical strength at 28 and 90 days, as well as the thermal conductivity of lightweight cellular concrete. Non-autoclaved cellular concretes (CC) were investigated based on three types of sand, i.e., sea sand (SS), river sand (RS), and waste marble sand (WMS); a hydraulic binder (a mix of cement and waste marble powder), and aluminum powder. The experimental results indicate that the nature and particle size distribution of the sand used had an impact on the properties of the CCs. Furthermore, it can be seen that the increased aluminum contents decrease the density, mechanical strength, and thermal characteristics of the CCs. Using 10-15% WMP as a cement substitute improves the mechanical strength, offers better thermal conductivity values, and contributes to sustainable development by developing a new class of environmentally friendly cellular concrete.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF PALM OIL CLINKER AS CEMENT AND SAND REPLACEMENT MATERIALS IN FOAMED CONCRETE

Cellular lightweight concrete (CLC), also known as foamed concrete, has been extensively used in construction for decades. Foamed concrete’s properties include low density, excellent thermal conductivity, great workability, and selfcompaction; these features enable foamed concrete to be utilized in various contexts. However, the excessive use of conventional materials in concrete production harms the environment. Therefore, using agro-waste as a material to construct ecologically sustainable structures has numerous practical and financial benefits. Palm oil clinker (POC) is a waste product resulting from solid waste combustion during palm oil extraction. This research focused on the properties of foamed concrete with POC at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% as the fine aggregate replacement to develop lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) with a density of 1300 kg/m3. Besides, the potential of POC powder (POCP) and thermally activated POCP (TPOCP) at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% as cement replacements was examined. The development of compressive strength during a 90-day curing period was investigated. In addition, tensile and flexural strengths were assessed and reported, and the elastic modulus of the LFC was discussed. The transport properties of water absorption, porosity, and sorptivity were also investigated. The durability of concrete derivatives can exhibit the product’s resistance to chemical attacks and environmental conditions. After 75 days of immersion in hydrochloric acid and magnesium sulfate, the chemical resistivity of the produced LFC was determined by measuring the loss in weight and compressive strength. In addition, the effects of elevated temperatures on the LFC were determined by analyzing the mass loss and compressive strength degradation of specimens exposed to temperatures ranging from 200 to 800 °C. The test results demonstrated that the complete replacement of sand with POC enhanced the compressive strength of LFC by more than 50%. Similarly, POC-based LFC had higher flexural and tensile strengths than normal LFC. Besides, substituting 20% of cement with TPOCP could improve the strength of LFC by 23% during the initial curing days. Utilizing the optimal proportions of POC and POCP could enhance the residual strengths of LFC. Therefore, POC has the potential to be utilized as a fine aggregate and cementitious material to produce sustainable concrete.

Environmental impact on critical responses of lightweight cellular concrete subbase flexible pavements

Previous analytical studies have demonstrated that low-density lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) subbase pavements can support up to 20 times more traffic loads than unbound granular subbase pavements while protecting the pavement subgrade from adverse freeze–thaw effects in cold regions. This study examines the possibility of providing better-performing pavements on the field through the construction, instrumentation, and monitoring of flexible pavement sections incorporating three LCC densities (400, 475, and 600 kg/m³) as subbase material compared with unbound granular material in Canada. The effects of daily and seasonal temperatures on pavement critical responses to stress and strains were evaluated. The findings showed that these LCC pavements reduced asphalt concrete tensile strain by over two times compared with unbound granular pavements, and that strain increased with a daily temperature increase. Daily subgrade pressure (stress) change was reduced by up to 68%. The study concluded that longer life pavements could be achieved with LCC subbase thicknesses ≥250 mm.

Lightweight and Alternative Backfills for Highway Applications: State-of-the-Art Practice in the U.S.A.

The use of lightweight and alternative materials in geotechnical applications may be advantageous when compared with more conventional structural backfills. This paper focuses on using seven lightweight and alternative backfill materials in highway applications: controlled low-strength materials (CLSM); expanded shale, clay, and slate (ESCS); foamed glass aggregates (FGA); lightweight cellular concrete (LCC); polystyrene geofoams; recycled glass aggregates; and tire-derived aggregates (TDA). The current knowledge and the state-of-the-art practice for using these materials in highway geotechnical applications of interest, that is, retaining walls, bridge abutments, pipes/culverts, embankments, and slope stabilization, were evaluated. The paper first introduces the materials, including the unit weight ranges for each lightweight and alternative fill material, and their applications. Then, the key aspects and advantages of each material for highway geotechnical applications are listed and evaluated. Further, for each material, the physical, chemical, and mechanical material properties are discussed, as well as the design requirements and guidelines, construction and placement guidelines, and the environmental considerations. Finally, the technology-ready aspects of each material studied with regard to its application to highway geotechnical problems, and the identified barriers to the deployment of each one were summarized and discussed. Based on the current knowledge, some lightweight and alternative materials (e.g., ESCS, CLSM, TDA) have been more widely used in the U.S.A. for geotechnical applications, whereas others are still emerging technologies. Further, certain materials (e.g., LCC, TDA, geofoam) have well-developed design guidelines, whereas others (e.g., CLSM, FGA) require more research.

Seismic performance evaluation of plastered cellular lightweight concrete (CLC) block masonry walls

The current research presents a novel and sustainable load-bearing system utilizing cellular lightweight concrete block masonry walls. These blocks, known for their eco-friendly properties and increasing popularity in the construction industry, have been studied extensively for their physical and mechanical characteristics. However, this study aims to expand upon previous research by examining the seismic performance of these walls in a seismically active region, where cellular lightweight concrete block usage is emerging. The study includes the construction and testing of multiple masonry prisms, wallets, and full-scale walls using a quasi-static reverse cyclic loading protocol. The behavior of the walls is analyzed and compared in terms of various parameters such as force–deformation curve, energy dissipation, stiffness degradation, deformation ductility factor, response modification factor, and seismic performance levels, as well as rocking, in-plane sliding, and out-of-plane movement. The results indicate that the use of confining elements significantly improves the lateral load capacity, elastic stiffness, and displacement ductility factor of the confined masonry wall in comparison to an unreinforced masonry wall by 102%, 66.67%, and 5.3%, respectively. Overall, the study concludes that the inclusion of confining elements enhances the seismic performance of the confined masonry wall under lateral loading.

Mechanical behaviours of cellular lightweight concrete using finite element analysis

Cellular Lightweight Concrete (CLC) is a concrete brick with a density lighter than concrete bricks. The efficiency of the use and quality of CLC can be determined by analysing mechanical behaviour using the finite element method. The purpose of this study is to analyse the mechanical behaviour of lightweight concrete using the finite element method. Analysis of mechanical behaviour using LUSAS finite element software. The CLC model used admixture materials of silica foam, palm oil fly ash (POFA) and lime (CaCO3). The study resulted in the difference between the numeric and experimental analysis being less than 10%. The most considerable deformation occurred at the top of the CLC model based on the deformation contour distribution. The most significant stress and strain contours distribution occurred at the CLC model’s bottom. The controlled load of 6 kN to 60 kN causes an increase in the mechanical behaviour of CLC. The most considerable deformation occurred when the maximum load on the CLC model with a silica fume mixture was 9.239 mm. The stress of the CLC model is 1.148 N/mm2, and the most significant strain occurred in CLC with silica fume admixture with a CLC weight of 0.038. Thus, the finite element method can be used as a comparison of laboratory test results to determine the mechanical behaviour of CLC.

Field testing of blast responses and strengthening methods of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete panels

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a type of lightweight cellular concrete with a homogeneous void or cell structure. Because of its physical characteristics, AAC has many advantages, such as heat insulation, sound insulation, and fire resistance. AAC masonry blocks or reinforced AAC elements are widely used in public and civil buildings. Reinforced AAC panels, also known as autoclaved lightweight concrete panels, are made of AAC and steel reinforcing cages and are commonly used as panels. Explosions due to accidents or warfare have occurred more frequently in recent years, which often threaten the safety of building structures. In order to protect personnel and buildings, it is crucial to understand the dynamic response and damage of the reinforced AAC panels under blast loadings and find effective strengthening methods. In this study, 12 TNT blast tests were carried out on reinforced AAC panels, considering two strength classes of AAC and different strengthening materials. Various scaled distances were considered to investigate the blast resistance performance of reinforced AAC panels. The corresponding displacement responses of reinforced AAC panels were recorded. The damage characteristics and damage modes of the panels were compared and analyzed. The test results show that reinforced AAC panels have poor blast resistance performance and the damage mode changed as the scaled distances decreased. Increasing the strength of AAC or adding 5 mm strengthening layers significantly reduced the displacement response of reinforced AAC panels. Polyurea-strengthened and engineered geopolymer composites (EGC)-strengthened panels had similar displacement responses at the same scaled distance. Double-layer EGC prevented the fragmentation both on the front and rear faces. EGC strengthening is a very economical approach for reinforced AAC panels.

In-Service Performance Evaluation of Flexible Pavement with Lightweight Cellular Concrete Subbase

The objective of engineers to improve the long-term performance of road infrastructure in changing global climate has led to the development of alternate materials for pavement construction. Lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) is a viable option for colder climates where pavements undergo several freeze-thaw cycles each year, resulting in faster deterioration of pavements. This is due to LCCs’ excellent freeze-thaw resistance, ease of placement, and potential sustainability benefits such as reduced use of virgin material and industrial by-products. However, there is a need to quantify these benefits and develop unified specifications for using LCC in the pavement structure. Therefore, this study examined the performance of flexible pavement sections that included a subbase layer, unbound granular materials for the control section, and three LCC densities (400, 475, and 600 kg/m3) for the LCC sections. Post-construction evaluation of pavement stiffness and roughness were evaluated using a Lightweight deflectometer and SurPro equipment. The results showed that LCC subbase thickness ≥ 250 mm produced over 22% smoother riding surfaces than unbound granular pavements while increasing pavement stiffness by up to 21%. Finally, this study recommends that LCC subbase thickness should not be thinner than 250 mm when using densities below 475 kg/m3 over weak subgrades.

Influence of various admixtures on energy absorption characteristics of foam concrete measured using one dimensional strain analysis test

Foam concrete (FC) (a light weight cellular concrete) has recently clutched the interest of military engineering due to its special attributes such as cushioning behavior and energy absorption. However, only a very few investigations on the mechanical performance of FC and its energy absorption characteristics are reported in the literature. This study examines the effects of the addition of polypropylene fibres, fly ash (as filler replacement), and silica fume (as binder replacement) on fresh state features (stability and consistency), mechanical properties, and energy absorption characteristics. The individual and combination effects of various admixtures are studied experimentally. Hingot surfactant was used to produce FC mixes of target density 1000 kg/m3 with water to solid ratio of 0.3. Comparative analysis of various mixes showed that the fiber-reinforced fly ash mix showed the highest mechanical strength due to the bonding of fibres with the matrix, thus demonstrating synergistic behavior. Further, one-dimensional compression strain testing methodology was employed to study the energy absorption characteristics of FC. Experimental outcomes showed that the energy absorption values depend on two important components which are resistance against plastic yield, referred to as ductility, and resistance against damage referred to as the strength of the material. The incorporation of fibres enhanced the ductility of the specimen by acting as a toughening agent, whereas fly ash substitution contributed to enhancement of strength of the specimen due to pozzolanic and filler effects. Hence the combination mix with FA and PP (CMFP) showed significant improvement of 34.6% in energy absorption when compared to control mix.

Sifat tekan komposit sandwich dengan inti beton cellular diperkuat pin bambu sebagai bahan panel ringan

Cellular lightweight concrete as sandwich composite core has the advantage of its density, with the presence of foam which makes it lighter. However, the presence of foam reduces its strength. Reinforcement with bamboo pins was carried out to increase the compressive strength of the sandwich composite. Bamboo pins connecting the composite skin reinforce the cellular lightweight concrete at an angle of 900, 700,650 to the composite skin. With the addition of bamboo pins, it increases the compressive strength of the sandwich composite in both flat and edge directions.

Addition of Fly Ash and Aluminum Slag as Cement Substitute Materials to Cellular Lightweight Concrete

Most of the construction buildings that are often found use concrete as the main building material. The development of technology makes more and more new types of modified concrete, one of which is lightweight concrete. Lightweight concrete that is often found is lightweight concrete CLC (Cellular Lightweight Concrete). The construction of non-structural elements of the building applies CLC lightweight concrete at a lower cost than standard concrete due to faster work, more temperature resistance, ease of handling, and lighter density. This study aims to find the optimum percentage and effect of using aluminum slag and fly ash as a partial replacement of cement in cellular lightweight concrete. The test object is printed in a molding size of 5x5x5 cm3. The use of aluminum slag is 0%, 1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, 6%, and 7.5%, while the use of fly ash is 15% of the cement weight. The tests carried out included volume weight, compressive strength, and water absorption at the age of 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The results of this study, it can be concluded that increasing the variation of aluminum slag with fly ash content remains at 15% in each variation as a cement substitution, the most significant variation is 1.5%. The optimum compressive strength test results at a variation of 1.5% of 4.1 MPa with the highest specific gravity of 752 gr/cm3, and water absorption of 66.67%, it all specimens at the age of 28 days.

In-situ structural analysis of lightweight cellular concrete subbase flexible pavements

This study in Canada aimed to improve the performance of flexible pavements by comparing the in-place behavior of Lightweight Cellular Concrete (LCC) at three densities with traditional unbound granular material. The research investigated the effect of traffic load and testing temperature on pavement response and determined the structural layer coefficient for the 475 kg/m³ density. The structural layer coefficient for the LCC subbase at this density was 0.22. Results showed that pavements with LCC had over three times less stress at the top of the subgrade compared to the conventional granular material. The Weslea software, which uses a multi-layer elastic theory, appeared to overestimate stress responses for LCC pavements, and the research suggested a prediction modification for more accurate results. Overall, the study demonstrated that lightweight cellular concrete with different densities could improve pavement performance.

Pengaruh Salinitas Pasir Terhadap Kuat Tekan Bata

The development of technology, especially in the construction field, in manufacturing bricks is increasingly rapid and varied, one of which is lightweight brick. The light brick is a composite building material made of sand, cement, limestone, gypsum, water, and aluminum powder. In general, lightweight bricks have two types, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) and Cellular Lightweight Concrete (CLC). Light bricks were created to lighten the structural load of a construction building, speed up construction, and minimize material waste during the wall installation process. Sand is a staple in the construction process. In addition, sand material cannot be separated from its use in the industrial world. The Taguchi method is a methodology in engineering that aims to improve the quality of products and processes and can reduce costs and resources to a minimum. The compressive strength of the concrete load is the magnitude of the load per unit area, which causes the concrete specimen to collapse when loaded with a specific compressive force, which is generated by the press machine; the compressive strength of the concrete will increase with increasing age of the concrete, where the compressive strength of the concrete will increase rapidly (linearly). Salinity is the salt content dissolved in water which is one of the physical parameters that can affect the quality of water, soil and sand.

Life cycle assessment of lightweight cellular concrete subbase pavements in Canada

ABSTRACT The use of Lightweight Cellular Concrete (LCC) as a subbase alternative to typical flexible pavement subbase material in cold regions is gaining attention. Since a setback of using LCC is its high cement content, which is a significant source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, it becomes imperative to consider this aspect when proposing LCC for pavement applications. This study evaluated the environmental impact of three densities (400, 475, and 600 kg/m³) of LCC produced with two methods (wet and dry mix) and compared to two types of unbound granular material (granular A and B) as flexible pavement subbase. The pavement performance was predicted using MEPDG and WESLEA software and compared with measured field responses as a basis for maintenance strategy. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results showed that lower-density LCC pavements decreased environmental costs by reducing total life CO2 emissions by up to 16% and reducing environmental impact for Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen oxide, Particulate Matter (PM)2.5, PM10 and total PM compared to granular A and B pavements. As LCC density increased, more emissions occurred, showing the importance of density to emissions output. This research demonstrates the potential benefits of using LCC as an alternative subbase pavement material.

Development of new material for geopolymer lightweight cellular concrete and its cementing mechanism

Lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) is widely used in engineering and construction because of its low density and good thermal and acoustic insulation capabilities. However, cement production, the cementitious material for LCC, consumes much energy and emits large amounts of CO2. Therefore, reducing cement consumption is one of the main hot issues in the development of China's construction industry. The geopolymer cementitious material is one of the ideal substitutes for silicate cement because of its low energy consumption in production and its ability to give full play to the fly ash and slag activity under the action of alkali excitation. It is imperative to combine geopolymer with LCC to find a kind of lightweight and high strength building material, but there is still a lack of systematic research on this aspect. On the basis of exploring samples of geopolymer lightweight cellular concrete (GLCC), the influence of fly ash, slag content, sodium silicate modulus, alkali content, water cement ratio and other factors on the strength and fluidity of GLCC was analyzed by single factor (SF) test, and the reasonable value range of four factors was proposed. The significant effect of the four factors and the best matching ratio was derived through response surface (RS) test, and RS optimization prediction and validation were carried out. On the other hand, the cementing mechanism of geopolymer on LCC was analyzed from a microscopic perspective by comparing LCC and LCC filled with fly ash (LCCFFA) specimens with SEM tests.

Effects of few layers graphene addition, aggregate size, and water acidity on the compressive strength and morphology of cellular lightweight concrete

Cellular Lightweight Concrete (CLC) with the addition of Few Layers Graphene (FLG) has been fabricated and characterized for canal blocks application. The CLC-FLG composite was made by mixing fine agregate (sand), cement, fly ash, water, and FLG. The compressive strength properties of the composite was tested using a digital compressive strength test to determine the effects of FLG addition, sand size gradations, and environmental acidity on the compressive strength of the composite. Meanwhile, the composite morphology was examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The increase in FLG content and concentrations increased the compressive strength. The highest compressive strength was shown by the composite with the highest FLG addition (15%) and without sand size gradation, namely 5.19 Mpa or there was an increase of 15.6% compared to CLC without the addition of FLG. The level of water acidity relatively did not affected the compressive strength of CLC-FLG composite. Morphological analysis showed that the addition of FLG resulted in a denser structure and reduced porosity of CLC. The CLC-FLG composite can be used as canal blocks materials for peatland restoration.