Experimental investigation for mechanical properties of foam balls lightweight concrete

Abstract EN

Researchers and industrialists' interest in foam balls lightweight concrete (FBLWC) to be used in structural applications is steadily increasing, since the increase in demand for structures are light in weight.

FBLWC is currently believed to have a promising future.

It was restricted to use as partition wall, thermal insulation and rehabilitation work in the past.

In the last few decades with the understanding of the phenomenon underlying (FBLWC), efforts have been made to use it in structural application.

A new kind of LWC was developed for foam balls lightweight concrete, in which conventionally aggregates is partially replaced by polystyrene foam particles, which combined the advantages of normal density concrete, cellular concrete and high workability [3].

The main objective of the research was to investigate and evaluate the mechanical properties of (FBLWC).

The investigation focused on studying the compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, modulus of elasticity, stress-strain relationship in (compression and tension) and tension stiffening effect.

The research work included an experimental and a numerical phase.

The experimental program included the testing of (FBLWC) specimens under concentric axial load in both tension and compression to obtain the actual stress strain properties of the produced FBLWC.

This study showed that the use of foam balls in lightweight concrete clearly reduced the density of the concrete from 24.00 kN/m3 to 18.45 kN/m3 which represented a reduction of 23%.

The average compressive strength for cube specimens was 27 MPa.

And the average compressive strength for the cylinder specimens was 22.4 MPa.