Assessment of porcelanites, western desert of Iraq as aggregates for structural lightweight concrete

Abstract EN

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the porcelanite rocks as aggregates instead of gravel for manufacturing structural lightweight concrete blocks.

Porcelanite rocks are studied petrographically, mineralogically and geochemically.

The prepared concert samples are subjected to many tests to assess their use in the manufacture of structural lightweight concrete.

These testes included density, water absorption, compressive strength, thermal conductivity, p-wave velocity and acoustic impedance.

In comparison with the normal weight concrete sample depending on the Iraqi and American Standard for Testing Materials (ASTM) specifications, the results are successful and encouraging, showing the possibility of manufacturing of structural lightweight blocks of good compressive strength, low thermal conductivity and acoustic impedance.