Determination of optimum Styrofoam content and thermal properties in light weight concrete

Civil Engineering

Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded with cement that hardens over time. Lightweight concrete contains a lightweight aggregate that meets the requirements of ASTM-C.330 provision and has unit mass of dry air as determined by ASTM-C.567 which has a density of no more than 1900 kg/m3[2]. Lightweight concrete is used widely in the construction industry, obviously due to reduction in weight. Builders and designers are looking for lightweight concrete to reduce the production cost. Reduction of self-weight load may result in reducing sizes of footings and lighter and smaller upper structures. Reduction in the dimensions of structural members results in larger space availability. Reduced dead load of the building by using lightweight concrete results in reduction of earthquake damages to structures. This experimental study was carried out to determine the optimum amount of Styrofoam of 20% of 3 mm in grade 30 concrete. The results were within the ASTM limits. Density is 1511 kg/m3, slump value is 95 mm, compressive strength is 6.3 N/mm2 and the flexural strength is 3.1 N/mm2. Lightweight concrete will give high thermal insulation and enhanced fire resistance.

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