Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Methodology For The Design of Lightweight Concrete With Expanded Clay Aggregates
Methodology For The Design of Lightweight Concrete With Expanded Clay Aggregates
K2O
3.4%
MnO
0.2%
P2O5
0.2%
Rest
>7,1%
Lightweight concrete expanded clay aggregates exhibit particular properties: favourable thermal and acoustic
Auxiliar Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,
University of Porto, Portugal, ams@fe.up.pt.
2
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,
University of Porto, Portugal, hipolito@fe.up.pt.
3
Industrial Manager, Maxit, pavimentos e Blocos S.A.,
Albergaria-A-Velha, Portugal, fontes.melo@maxit.pt.
1
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
Planning
The experimental program consists of the design
and characterization of seven lightweight concretes with
densities between 853 and 1,418 kg/m3, which represent
values currently used by the masonry blocks industries.
To analyze the influence of cement content on concrete
properties, four different quantities of cement were used
for each of the seven mix design groups.
Dry bulk density, compressive and flexural strengths,
elastic modulus, shrinkage, and absorption capacity by
immersion and by capillarity and thermal conductivity
were experimentally determined. The development of
concrete compressive strength with age was also evaluated, by tests starting from ages of 1 day up to 160 days.
74
D = d1
I =
K
5
B
R
0.75
D
+ (d1 -d2
x
y
(1)
(2)
K'
B
0.75
D
(3)
with
mo = m1 p1 + m2 p2 +... + mn pn
(4)
p1 + p2+.+ pn = 1
(5)
m0
= fineness modulus of reference curve
m1,mn = fineness modulus of aggregates 1, , n
p1, pn = percentage of aggregates 1, , n in the mix
the medium quadratic deviation between the reference curve and the mix curve should be minimum;
the adjustment of concrete density can be achieved
replacing a light aggregate for a normal aggregate
with the same grading [Melo (2000)].
These methods have only been applied for the design of traditional concrete mixes. Nevertheless, it seems
reasonable to apply the Faurys method to lightweight
concrete, by experimental adjustments in order to obtain
desired values of the density or strength. The values of the
mix design parameters must be consistent with the specifications of the production process [Melo (2000)]: very
strong vibration, high wall effect and workability of very
dry concrete.
TMS Journal December 2005
75
Coarse aggregates
Lightweight
Normal
LECA 4-10
cr. granite
540
2,730
330
1,420
350
1,540
18.8
0.9
1.04
_
10.06
8.04
5.39
5.17
27.7
Information on mix proportions and concrete expected dry bulk density are summarized in Table 3.
The application of Faury method to the design of one
of the mixes (mix D2C) is shown in Figure 4.
For production of lightweight concrete with expanded
clay aggregates, the amount of water in the mix is automatically determined after the measurement of water content
in the aggregates. No chemical admixtures were added.
EXPERIMENTS
Specimens Production and Curing
The specimens for the different characterization tests
of the mixtures, with sizes according to the applicable International Standards, were moulded in a metallic mould
specially designed for utilization at the vibrant-compressor systems (Figure 5).
3.8
Fine aggregates
Lightweight
Normal
LECA 02
natural sand
1,320
2,650
660
1,510
730
1,650
18.1
0.2
_
_
2.42
2.38
2.82
1.91
31.0
5.3
Cement
( kg/m3 )
D1A
D1B
D1C
D1D
D2A
D2B
D2C
D2D
D3A
D3B
D3C
D3D
D4A
D4B
D4C
D4D
D5A
D5B
D5C
D5D
D6A
D6B
D6C
D6D
D7A
D7B
D7C
D7B
126
155
185
214
126
155
185
214
126
155
185
214
126
155
185
214
126
155
185
214
126
155
185
214
126
155
185
214
LECA
4-10
(%)
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
70
65
65
65
65
60
60
60
60
55
55
55
55
50
50
50
50
LECA
0-2
(%)
20
20
20
20
10
10
10
10
Gravel
(%)
Sand
(%)
5
5
5
5
10
10
10
10
15
15
15
15
20
20
20
20
10
10
10
10
20
20
20
20
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
Dry bulk
density
( kg/m3 )
853
853
853
853
960
960
960
960
1,067
1,067
1,067
1,067
1,155
1,155
1,155
1,155
1,243
1,243
1,243
1,243
1,330
1,330
1,330
1,330
1,418
1,418
1,418
1,418
200 x 200
200 x 200
700 x 100
700 x 100
200 x 200
d=100
700 x 100
300 x 300
200 x 200
180 x 220
d=100
200 x 200
200 x 200
77
Test procedures
The moisture content of fresh concrete (difference, in
percentage, between moisture and dry mass of samples after seven days drying in a climatic chamber with temperature of 75C and the workability by Vebe test [ISO 4110
(1980)] were determined for the mixes produced. Compression strength testing [NP EN 12390-3 (2003)] at 28
days on cubic specimens was carried out. Three point load
bending tests [E227 (1968)] were undertaken at 28 days on
prismatic specimens in order to evaluate tensile strength.
Youngs modulus [E397 (1993)] as well as compression
strength were determined at an age of 36 days, on prismatic specimens, for seven reference mixes, D1B to D7B.
The evolution of concrete compressive strength with
age was determined by compression tests at 26 hours, 3,
7, 14, 28, 59, 91, 120 and 160 days for three reference
mixes, D1B, D4B, D7B (6 specimens per age and mix).
Shrinkage measurements [E398 (1993)] were undertaken on two specimens of each of the same three reference
mixes above, starting from 23 hours up to 120 days; for
that period the specimens were kept in a climatic chamber
at 21C and relative humidity of 55%. Measurements of
the displacements were obtained by using an analogical
transducer (with resolution of 1310-3 mm.
Water absorption by immersion [E394 (1993)], during a period of 210 days, and by capillarity [E393 (1993)],
starting from 1 hour up to 15 days, were evaluated for the
same three reference mixes, D1B, D4B, D7B.
78
Number of
Specimens/Mix
6
6
3
31
542
22
12
12
11
EXPERIMENTAL
DISCUSSION
RESULTS
AND
and reduce porosity. It should be noticed that some concrete segregation with concentration of coarse aggregates
on one side of the mould was observed, which could be
responsible for the high deviation on mechanical concrete
properties compared to those for concretes produced in
moulding machines of modern factories.
The lower and upper limits on compressive concrete
strength variation were 5.13 and 11.70 kN/mm2. Results
showed an increase of compressive strength with the
quantity of cement when low percentages of lightweight
aggregate were used. For mixes with low quantities of cement (mixes D1A to D7A) the compressive strength was
less affected by the quantity of lightweight aggregate in
the composition.
Tensile Strength in
Bending (at 28 days)
Mean
Variation
Value
Coefficient
(N/mm2)
(%)
1.38
8
1.49
10
1.61
9
1.76
2
1.49
6
1.35
21
2.07
7
2.06
8
1.44
12
1.84
8
2.24
7
2.40
14
1.73
16
1.64
7
2.23
8
2.42
3
1.80
6
2.21
9
2.26
17
2.58
3
1.78
11
2.19
4
2.67
6
2.68
6
2.02
9
2.38
14
2.55
8
2.81
10
Youngs Modulus
(at 36 days)
Mean
Standard
Value
Deviation
(N/mm2) (N/mm2)
5,400
0.5
6,800
1.5
7,900
0.9
8,800
1.3
10,300
1.6
14,700
2.9
13,500
1.6
79
f c
(6)
The values obtained for Youngs Modulus and concrete strength of lightweight concrete mixes with cement
content of 155 kg/m3 (mixes D1-b to D7-B), at the age of 36
days, as well as density, are presented in Table 7. The limit
mean = ( 0.0038 pla + 1.033 )ln ( age ) 0.0564 pla + 8.088 (7)
Water Absorption
Capillarity
Shrinkage
Lightweight concretes usually exhibit a high drying
shrinkage. Because of the lower modulus of elasticity,
lightweight aggregate offers less restraint to the potential
shrinkage of cement paste [Neville (1973)]. Shrinkage
evolution is presented in Figure 8. The shrinkage-time
curves for the three mixes are similar, showing the upper values for the mixes with greater percentage of lightweight aggregates.
by
Immersion
and
81
Thermal Conductivity
The ability of lightweight aggregate concrete masonry blocks to conduct heat is relevant to thermal insulation
provided by walls, as a lower thermal conductivity will
reduce heat exchange with the outside ambient.
Thermal conductivity by the hot plate method was
obtained for four mix references D2B, D3B, D4B and
D7B. The comparisons between the thermal conductivity, the dry bulk density, and the quantity of lightweight
aggregate that are presented in Table 8, show an increase
with concrete density [Sousa Coutinho (1988)]. Results
obtained will permit the use of lightweight aggregate
concrete masonry blocks on single leaf walls without any
other thermal insulation materials, according to what is
required by Portuguese codes [RCCTE (1999)].
CONCLUSIONS
The experimental study undertaken aimed to evaluate
the applicability of a mix design method for lightweight
clay aggregate concretes used to produce lightweight concrete masonry blocks. The research aimed to forecast concrete properties from mix composition and from density.
Table 8. Thermal Conductivity
Dry Bulk
LECA
Mix
Density
Content
Reference
(kg/m3)
(%)
D2B
919
80
D3B
950
70
D4B
1,240
65
D5B
1,209
60
82
Thermal
Conductivity
(W/mC)
0.33
0.44
0.51
0.48
REFERENCES
Bolomey, J., Module de Finesse dAbram et Calcul de
Lau de Gchage ds Btons, in Contribution la Publication de Jubile du Cinquantenaire de la Fondation du Lab.
Fd. Ess. Mat. cole Pol. Fd., Zurich (in French) 1930.
Bresson J. and Brusin, M. tude de lInfluence de la
Composition Granulaire Sur les Qualits des Betns Vibrs et Comprims Publication No. 13 du CERIB, (in
French) 1974.
Caquot, A., Le Role des Materiaux Inertes Dans le Bton, Mem. Soc. Ing. Civils de France, Vol. 90, No. 4, pp.
562 (in French) 1937.
Fuller, W.B. and Thompson, S.E., The Laws of Proportioning Concrete, Trns. Am. Soc. Civil Eng., New York,
pp. 67, 1907.
ISO 4110, Vebe Test, International Standard, 1980.
ISO 6275-1982, Bton Durci - Dtermination de la Masse
Volumique, Norme Internationale, (in French) 1982.
Joisel, Composition des Btons Hidrauliques, Ann. Inst.
Tech. Bat. Trav. Publ. (in French) 1952.
Leclerc du Sablon, Le Bton Racionnel. Mthodes pratiques Pour la Ralization de Mortiers et des Btons Offrant les Qualits Dsires au Prix de Revient Minimum,
Ann. Ponts et Chausses, Paris, Vol. 97, Tomo I, Fac. I,
pp. 149, (in French) 1927.
Melo, A.F., Caracterizao de Betes Leves VibrocomPrimidos com Agregados de Argila Expandida, M.Sc.
Thesis, University of Porto, ( in Portuguese) 2000.
Moyer, C., Caractristiques Thermiques des Betons Lgers, Granulats et Betons Legers, Bilan de dix ans de recherches, Presses de lcole Nationale des Ponts et Chausses,
ed. M. Arnould, M. Virlogeux, (in French) 1986.
RCCTE, Regulamento das Caractersticas do Comportamento Trmico dos Edifcios, Portuguese Standard, (in
Portuguese) 1999.
83
NOTATIONS
A
B
d1
d2
D
Ec
fc
h
84