Strength and durability of lightweight foam concrete as structural material
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Date
2009
Authors
Wan Alwi, Wan Abdullah
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Abstract
Low density lightweight foam concrete is more generally known as a construction
material that is weak in character. This is caused by the presence of numerous air cells as
aggregate substitutes in its matrix construction. This research aims to design a mixture of
lightweight foam concrete with different density levels ranging from 1200 kg/m3 to 2000
kg/m3 as structural material in the construction industry. The utilisation of the fine quarry
produced aggregates in all the laboratory experiments is to maximise the use of surplus
industrial materials. Material engineering trait tests were conducted to ascertain strength
and durability characteristics of lightweight foam concrete via exposure to different
preservation agents namely air, plain water and salt water within the period of
experimentation. Tests on lightweight foam concrete using reinforcement and without
reinforcement panels were carried out to determine durability traits against loading
pressure using the same preservation agents within the period of experimentation. Tests
on the strength characteristics reveal that salt solution preservative produces higher
strength values compared to those of plain water and at the atmosphere in all test
parameters. Likewise, tests on durability characteristics indicate all the test parameters
show that salt solution preservative values are higher as opposed to plain water and the
atmosphere. These results indicate that saline solution forms crystals in order to
strengthen and reinforce the bonds among matrix. Inter density comparisons point to the
fact that high density records higher strength and durability values compared to lower
density. The higher number of air cells in low density reduces its strength and durability
values. The structure panel test indicates that at 30 days, salt solution preservative
produces a higher durability value than plain water and the atmosphere. However, tests at
90 and 180 days produces a result in the reverse whereby air preservatives is higher than
plain water and salt solution in all reinforcement panels. Salt solution, though remains
high compared to plain water and the atmosphere in the without reinforcement panels.
The result indicates that salt water solution has permeated into the construction matrix
thus causing erosion to the reinforcement. In conclusion, lightweight foam concrete can
be suitably used under exposure to salinity for without reinforcement structures.
Reinforcement structure on the contrary is weak due to erosion of the reinforcement.
Description
PhD
Keywords
Housing, Building and Planning , Foam concrete , Structural material