Strength And Durability Properties Of Lightweight Foamed Concrete For Housing Construction
Loading...
Date
2011
Authors
Zulkarnain, Fahrizal
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Foamed concrete is either cement paste classified as lightweight concrete, where air-voids are entrapped in mortar by a suitable foaming agent. It possesses high-flow ability, low self-weight, minimal consumption of aggregate, controlled low strength, and excellent thermal insulation properties. A wide range of densities of the foam concrete between (1600-400 kg/m3), with proper control in the dosage of the foam, can be obtained for the structural, partition, insulation application and the filling grades. In this research, foam concrete uses fine aggregate passing a 5 mm or 3/16 inch sieve, and 10% of Norizal Hardener Powder Code: 4 (NHP4) based on the weight of cement, for increasing the strength and durability of lightweight foamed concrete. The ratio for this mix design is 1:1.5:0.45 with target density from 1050 kg/m3, 1150 kg/m3, 1250 kg/m3, 1350 kg/m3 to 1450 kg/m3. The mix design adopted for this research has the volume of 0.05 m3 and slump test around 18 cm to 20 cm. Mortar density around 2150 kg/m3 for all target densities and foam weights in mix design is around 75-80 g/litre. Lightweight foamed concrete with curing time took place for 3, 7, 28, 60, 90, 180, and 365 days. Tests for all specimens in this research such as the compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength and lightweight cellular concrete block had been performed in different durations of the curing time. The compressive strength of the foamed concrete was determined from 100 mm x 100 mm cubes, flexural strength with 100 mm x 100 mm x 500 mm, tensile splitting strength with 150 mm diameter x 300 mm long for cylinders and lightweight cellular concrete block with 200 mm x 100 mm x 500 mm. The cubes were cast in steel moulds, demoulded after 24 hours, wrapped in polythene wrapping, and stored in a room with a constant room temperature of ± 28°C up to the day of testing. Each cube was unwrapped and weighed before testing.
Description
Keywords
Properties of lightweight foamed concrete , for housing construction