Production of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete

Abstract

The dominating factor in concrete construction is its self-weight which contributes a large proportion of the total load on the structure, and there are obvious advantages in reducing density of concrete. So the incorporation of Lightweight aggregate in construction is becoming popular all over the world. Thus, there is always realizing a need to study the various properties of lightweight aggregate concrete and developing correlation for these properties. This research aims to study properties of lightweight aggregate, properties of lightweight aggregate concrete and developing useful relations of its properties. Lightweight aggregate for the entire research was at village ‘GOHATI’near District Sawabi of KP. To study the properties of lightweight aggregate concrete, we casted concrete cylinders and cubes first with different w/c ratios i.e.0.5, 0.6 & 0.65 and mix design formula was 1:2:4. Tests on aggregate were sieve analysis, impact value, specific gravity & 10% fines. Tests conducted on hardened concrete were compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength, acid attack and on fresh concrete were slump test, compacting factor & Vee Bee Time. The objectives compiled in the completion of the proposed research work were study and analyse the physical properties and behaviour of lightweight aggregate, casting a suitable mix of lightweight concrete obtaining high compressive strength at 28 days and to study and analyse the inter-relationship between the resultant values of above-mentioned tests.