Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 754-755 (2015) pp 348-353 Submitted: 05.01.

2015
© (2015) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Accepted: 05.01.2015
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.754-755.348

Compressive Strength of Concrete from Lightweight Bubbles

Aggregate
Norlia Mohamad Ibrahim1a,2a, Leong Qi Wen1b, Mustaqqim Abdul Rahim 1c,2b,
Khairul Nizar Ismail1d, Roshazita Che Amat 1e,2c, Shamshinar Salehuddin1f,
Nur Liza Rahim1g
1
School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kompleks Pusat Pengajian
Jejawi 3, Arau Perlis, Malaysia
2
Centre of Excellence Geopolymer and Green Technology (CEGeoGTech), Schools of Materials
Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, P.O.Box 77, D/A Pejabat Pos Besar, 01000 Kangar, Perlis,
Malaysia
a
norlia@unimap.edu.my, bqi_wen@yahoo.com, cmustaqqim@unimap.edu.my,
d
nizar@unimap.edu.my, eroshazita@unimap.edu.my, fshamshinar@unimap.edu.my,
g
nurliza@unimap.edu.my

Keywords: lightweight aggregate, concrete, foam,compressive strength,

Abstract. Compressive strength of concrete is the major mechanical properties of concrete that
need to be focused on. Poor compressive strength will lead to low susceptibility of concrete
structure towards designated actions. Many researches have been conducted to enhance the
compressive strength of concrete by incorporating new materials in the concrete mixture. The
dependencies towards natural resources can be reduced. Therefore, this paper presents the results of
an experimental study concerning the incorporation of artificial lightweight bubbles aggregate
(LBA) into cementations mixture in order to produce comparable compressive strength but at a
lower densities. Three concrete mixtures containing various percentages of LBA, (10% - 50% of
LBA) and one mixture used normal aggregate (NA) were prepared and characterized. The
compressive strength of LBA in concrete was identified to be ranged between 39 MPa and 54 MPa.
Meanwhile, the densities vary between 2000 kg/m3 to 2300 kg/m3.

Introduction

Concrete, a composite material was made with cement, natural aggregates, sand and water in the
required proportion. These raw materials were mixed together according to the standard and
targeted strength. However, due to the reduction in quantity of natural coarse aggregate which is
granite, further research needs to be undertaken to overcome this issue. Other raw material such as
cement is having the same problems (Bui et al, 2013). Therefore, many studies have been conducted
to help mitigate the problems. One of the efficient ways is producing new materials that can be a
total replacement or partial replacement for existing materials such as cement, sand and granite.
More researches also have been done to improve the quality of lightweight aggregate. Lightweight
aggregate can be divided into two types which are natural aggregate (pumice, diatomite, volcanic,
cinder) and artificial lightweight aggregate (expanded perlite, shale, clay)(Amor et al, 2010). Man-
made lightweight aggregates can be used in many applications such as lightweight concrete,
lightweight brick and insulation material for road construction (Markus et al, 2013).

Furthermore,the usage of new man-made lightweight aggregates either from industrial or

post consumer waste are not only adding extra aggregates sources but also reduce the environmental
pollution (Abdul et al, 2009). Several research shows that using lightweight aggregate can be
developed by using sewage sludge and waste glass powder (Bui et al, 2013), oil palm shell (Payam
et al, 2011), lightweight fly ash (Niyazi et al, 2011), combination of concrete sludge and fly ash

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 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 754-755 349

(Norlia, 2014) and waste clay brick (Norlia, 2013). The usage of man-made lightweight aggregates
in concrete mixture has many advantages such as reducing the dependencies towards natural
resources, low density of concrete induced by lightweight aggregates, enables to reduce dead load
of the structures, reduce the size of columns, slab and beam dimensions, provided a higher thermal
insulation and improve fire resistance (Kayali, 2008).

Hence this research focused on the feasibility of using foam and ordinary Portland cement as
the principal materials for the production of LBA. Afterward, the selected LBA were used as coarse
aggregates to produce high strength of concrete. Mechanical properties of concrete such as density
and compressive strength were investigated.

Experimental Set-Up

Materials

LBA were used as coarse aggregate in mixture concrete. LBA were produced by mixing calculated
amount of foam and ordinary Portland cement. Foaming agent was diluted with water on ratio 1:2.5
where approximately equal to one portion of liquid foam diluted with 2.5 portion of water. Foam
generator was used to mix and inject the foam. Once the foam has been produced, foam will be
mixed with ordinary Portland cement in ratio 1:2 respectively until it became a uniform concrete
bubbles paste. The freshly manufactured paste were cut into nearly uniform rectangular shape with
the size approximately 20 mm and were dried in oven at 105 ± 5°C for 24 hours and cooled down
into room temperature before it can be used as a partial replacement for coarse aggregates in
concrete.

Table 1 provides the main physical properties of LBA .The water absorption of LBA were
determined after 24 hours of immersion in water according to ASTM C127. Uniform paste of LBA
was placed in 50 mm x 50 mm x 50 mm mould and dried in oven 24 hours before testing on
concrete compression machine to determine strength of LBA. This test follows Malaysia Standard
EN 12390-2:2012.

Table 1 Physical Properties of LBA

Physical Properties LBA

Dry Bulk Density (kg/m3) 730 – 800
Dry Loose Bulk Density (kg/m3) 700 – 730
Specific Gravity 1.50
Water Absorption (%) 14.48
Strength (MPa) 13.92

Concrete Mixtures

Three different LBA concrete mixtures (10% LBA, 20% LBA, and 50% LBA) and a normal weight
concrete (100% NA) as a control samples were prepared. The mix proportions for the five concrete
mixtures are shown in table 2. The selected size for LBA was from 5 mm – 20 mm and water to
cement ratio for this mixture was 0.65. Figure 1 shows the LBA that has been used in this study.
350 Advanced Materials Engineering and Technology III

Table 2 Mix Proportion of Concrete

Content (Kg) Slump

Mix No Normal Value
Cement Sand LBA Water (mm)
Aggregate
10%LBA 19.0 19.0 34.20 3.80 12.40 80
20%LBA 19.0 19.0 30.40 7.60 12.40 65
50%LBA 19.0 19.0 19.0 19.0 12.40 55
100%NA 19.0 19.0 38.0 - 12.40 90

Figure 1 : Lightweight Bubbles Aggregate (LBA)

Testing Methods

All materials, except for the LBA and water were firstly mixed for 2 minute in a concrete mixer. To
ensure all the materials were uniformly distributed, water was added into the mixture and mixed for
2 minutes. The LBAs were added and mixing was done for 1 minutes. After this, slump test was
performed. Once the value of slump is obtained, fresh concrete was placed into cube specimens 150
mm x 150 mm x 150 mm. The specimens were removed from its mould after 24 hours of casting
and kept in curing tank at room temperature. Reported density and compressive strength were the
average of three samples.

Table 3 indicates the different percentage of LBA replacement in concrete mixture used in
this study and total cube numbers involved,

Table 3 Different LBA Percentage

Curing Period
Coarse Oven Dry Total
LBA (Days) Density
Aggregate Density Cube
7 21 28
10% 90% 3 3 3 1 1 5
20% 80% 3 3 3 1 1 5
50% 50% 3 3 3 1 1 5
- 100% 3 3 3 1 1 5
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 754-755 351

Results and Discussion

Properties of Fresh Concrete

It has been verified that the workability of fresh concrete and bonding between aggregates and the
mortar phase are influenced significantly by physical properties such as shape, roughness and
texture of aggregates (Abdul et al, 2009). Slump test is carried to determine consistency of the fresh
concrete and Table 2 summarized the results for the slump value of fresh concrete that were tested
immediately after the mixing. The result was between 55 mm and 90 mm. Slump value for the
concrete mix were decreased proportionately with the value of LBA that has been replaced. The
open porosity of LBA required relatively higher water to cement ratio to ensure a good workability
of concrete.

Density and Compressive Strength of Concrete

Density is one of the important parameter to control many physical properties in concrete and it will
influence by the amount and density of aggregates in the mixture. According to MS EN 12390-1,
density can be divided into two categories which are density and oven dry density. Meanwhile,
referring to American Concrete Institute (ACI, 2007), density of conventional concrete can be
classified between 2240 kg/m³ - 2400 kg/m³ where as lightweight concrete at the range 1800 kg/m³
- 2000 kg/m³. From this research, value of concrete density is range from 1997 kg/m3 to 2373 kg/m3
whereas oven dry density is between 1822 kg/m3 to 2204 kg/m3. Even LBA was used to replace
coarse aggregates in concrete mixtures, but the density of concrete still can be categorized as
conventional concrete for 10% and 20% of LBA. In contradictory, 50% of LBA replacement in
concrete mixture will help the density to reduce and can be categorized as lightweight concrete as
the density is less than 2000 kg/m3. Figure 2 shows that value of concrete density and oven dry
density for all concrete samples.

Figure 3 shows that compressive strength of concrete for three different curing times. Literally,
strength of the concrete is influenced by the strength of the aggregates. The pore structure, density
and strength may vary within a wide range for different types of lightweight aggregates and not all
types of lightweight aggregates are suitable for production of high strength concrete (Zhong et al,
1990). 28 day compressive strength of LBA and NA were various and between 39 MPa to 51 MPa
which is consideed as high strength concrete. However, higher percentages of LBAs which are 50%
will result in a lower degree of compaction in the test specimens and partly contributed reduce the
strength of concrete and the compressive strength after 28 days was 39 MPa only.
352 Advanced Materials Engineering and Technology III

Density (kg/m3) Vs Mix Proportion

2500 2373
2295
2142 2204
2167
2044 1997
2000 1822

1500 Density
Density
(kg/m3)
1000 Oven Dry
Density

500

0
10% LBA 20% LBA 50% LBA 100% NA

Figure 2 Density and Oven Dry Density of Concrete

Compressive Strength (MPa) Vs Curing Time

60

50

40
Compressive
Strength
30
(MPa)

20

10

0
7 21 28
10% LBA 41.938 47.655 50.828
20% LBA 41.201 52.748 53.888
50% LBA 15.214 34.300 39.932
100% NA 40.411 42.908 44.746

Figure 3 Compressive Strength for Different Curing Time

Conclusion

This research investigates a new type of lightweight aggregates called as LBA (LBA) to replace
natural aggregates in concrete. The effects of an incorporation of LBA on the fresh and hardened
properties of the concrete have been analyzed. The properties of LBA as well as in concrete are
summarized as follow:-

• Workability test for fresh concrete show that slump value was between 55 mm and 90 mm.
It can be conclude that when the percentage of LBA was replaced in the concrete is increase;
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 754-755 353

value of slump is decreased as the LBA will absorb more water and porous structures
between ordinary Portland cement and foam is biggest.
• Density of concrete for 10% and 20% of LBA is ranged between 2040 kg/m3 to 2300 kg/m3
and it can be categorized as normal weight concrete or conventional concrete whereas
density for 50% of LBA in concrete was considered as lightweight concrete.
• Compressive strength of concrete for 20% LBA in concrete is higher compared to 10% and
50% of LBA where it achieves approximately 54.888 MPa after 28 days curing.

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