e-ISSN: 2582-5208

International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science

( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:05/Issue:03/March-2023 Impact Factor- 7.868 www.irjmets.com

A REVIEW PAPER ON THE PROPERTIES OF FOAM CONCRETE

Akash Singh*1, Anand Kumar Singh*2, Kishan Kumar*3
*1,2,3Student In Civil Engineering Bansal institute of engineering &
Technology Lucknow, India.
ABSTRACT
Foamed concrete possesses characteristics such as high strength-to-weight ratio and low density. Using foamed
concrete reduces dead load on the structure and foundation, contributes to energy conservation, and lowers the
labor cost during construction. Foam concrete (FC) has the potential of being an alternative to ordinary
concrete, as it reduces dead load on the structure and foundation, contributes to energy conservation, and
lowers the cost of production and labor cost during the construction and transportation. Foamed concrete
possesses characteristic such as high strength-to-weight ratio and low density. Using foamed concrete reduces
dead load on the structure and foundation, contributes to energy conservation, and lowers the labor cost during
construction. This study can help further encourage the wider application of FC in civil engineering.
The consistency of foam concrete should be equal to 1000 kg/m3. The compressive strength of the Light weight
concrete varies from 6Mpa – 14Mpa. The main scope of the research is to increase the strength of the foam
concrete by easily available sources. Foam concrete is an inventive applied science for viable construction in
civil engineering applications. The property of foam concrete is to develop air bubbles with greater strength,
stable during its manufacturing process by well mixing of ingredients, weathering condition on the site at the
time of placing, and drying of concrete.
I. INTRODUCTION
Foam concrete is a type of aerated lightweight concrete; foam concrete does not contain coarse aggregate and
can be regarded as an aerated mortar. Foam concrete is produced when pre-foamed concrete is added to slurry,
the function of foam is to create an air voids in cement-based slurry. The foaming agent diluted with water
aerated to create the foam. Cement paste or slurry set around the foam bubble and when foam being to
degenerated, the paste is sufficient strength to maintain its shape around air voids. The foam concrete mixture
becomes too stiff with lower content, causing bubbles to break, whereas the mixture the mixtures becomes too
thin to hold the bubbles with higher air content, leading to separation of bubbles from the mixture, water-
cement ratio usually ranges from 0.4 - 0.7. Foam concrete can be designed to have any density within the dry
density ranges of 400 – 1800 kg/m3. Which can have potential use in civil engineering, both as insulation from
heat and sound, and for load-bearing structures. However, due to the nature of the cement material and its
high porosity, FC is very weak in withstanding tensile loads; therefore, it often cracks in a plastic state, during
shrinkage while drying, and also in a solid state.

It was revealed that main target criterion of fiber-reinforced foamed concrete is density; therefore, almost all
studies aims to investigate the effect of fibers and foaming agent on density. Except for some papers, the

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[1988]
 e-ISSN: 2582-5208
International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:05/Issue:03/March-2023 Impact Factor- 7.868 www.irjmets.com
developed FRFC has a 28-day tensile and compressive strength not even more than 2.5 Mpa and 50 Mpa,
respectively. Nevertheless, fibers are rarely utilized to enhance FC’s cured characteristics other than focusing
on their effect on the performance of conventional concrete and for the cementation of sandy soil.
The FC is used as potential construction material in various civil engineering application such as geotechnical
application such as geotechnical application, acoustic and thermal insulation, and fire resistance. But yet from
being fully-used a structural concrete material due to that it has weakness at supporting tensile loads and in a
plastic state it commonly cracks, in the course of drying shrinkage as well as in the hard-edged state.
Foamed concrete can be prepared by two techniques, which are called pre-foaming method and hybrid foaming
method. For the former, it is necessary to prepare stable foam with the help of an air compressor, and then mix
it with the basic mixture (consisting of cement, sand and water). The concrete can be prepared by a reaction
between an alkaline solution and a raw material rich in silica and alumina, followed by curing and drying.
Foamed concrete is a kind of lightweight and porous concrete that receives considerable attention from
builders worldwide. The basic difference between foam concrete and normal concrete is that aggregate is not
used in FC and it has been replaced by the homogenous cells created by air in the form of small bubble which
use a stable air cell structure. It can be classified as cellular material because it contains a higher number of
pores. Foam concrete can be easily know as cellular material. The quality of foam concrete is based on the
quality of foam so that the foam is very important factor for the foamed concrete.
II. OBJECTIVE
The main objective this study are:
 To investigate the properties of foam concrete.
 To study the influence of fly ash on properties of foam concrete.
 To evaluate the strength of foam concrete with different percentage of fly ash.
 To reduce the cost of structure.
III. METHODOLOGY
Methodology refers to the systematic procedures applied to a field of study. Tests will be done to find if the
cubes that are cast match the desired density after the curing process. If the desired density is achieved, then
compressive test will be done on the foam concrete cubes so as to adjudicate their load carrying capacity.

IV. FOAM CONCRETE

Foam concrete is a very fluid, lightweight cellular concrete fill material, produced by blending a cement paste
(the slurry or mortar), with a separately manufactured, pre-formed foam. The density of foam concrete is
determine by the ratio of foam to slurry and densities range typically between 300 kg/m3 and 1600 kg/m3.
Sand pulverized fuel ash (PFA), quarry dust or limestone dust may be used to further enhance the properties of
foam concrete.

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[1989]
 e-ISSN: 2582-5208
International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:05/Issue:03/March-2023 Impact Factor- 7.868 www.irjmets.com

Foam concrete is created by uniform distribution of air bubble throughout the mass of concrete. The foam cells
must have walls, which remain stable during mixing, transportation, pumping and placing of fresh concrete.
The cells, or bubble are discrete and range in size between 0.1 and 1mm. foam concrete is a free flowing and
can be placed without compaction.

V. COMPOSITION OF FOAM CONCRET

This study is confined with aerated foam concrete which is produce by adding air voids into the cement-based
slurry. The cement slurry consist of cement, sand, fly ash and water. Depending on the prerequisite properties,
it can be with or without lightweight aggregate such as sand, fly ash etc. The introduction of air voids is
achieved by adding pre-formed foam to the mixture. A foaming agent diluted with water and aerated to form
the foam.
The foamed concrete has been produced by using the following constituents’ viz. cementitious material (i.e.,
cement & fly ash), sand, water and foaming agent.
Cementitious Material: Portland cement is preferred over other cements, such as Pozzolan. For early stripping
and optimum mechanical properties, high-grade cement is recommended. Thick walls and when using battery-
moulds, excess heat is developing within and might therefore ask for a lesser grade of cement. The slower,
hardening and better the final quality of concrete. To make it more economical, fly ash may be added to the mix
to substitute some of the cement. Fly ash normally will retard hardening though. In study, 53 grade Ordinary
Portland cement and fine fly ash has been used.
Sand: Optimum properties are achieved when selecting the most suitable raw material. The sand is mostly
preferred from river, which is washed and should be with minimum 20 percent fine. Dust in sand increases the
demand for water, without adding to the properties, it also increases shrinkage. A certain, small number of fines
contributes toward strength. As in conventional concrete, the sand should be free from organic impurities.
Crushed sand may destroy the foam mechanically. In this investigation locally available river bed sand has been
used.
Water: Mixing water for concrete should be clean and free from injurious amounts of oil, acids, alkalis, salts,
organic matter or other potentially deleterious substances. When water is used to produce foam, it has to be
potable and for best performance. Under no circumstances must the foaming agent be brought in contact with
an oil, fat chemical or other material that might harm its function. The oil/wax used in moulds will not harm,
since the foam by then will embedded in mortar. Water to prepare the mix has to confirm to general
requirements for concrete.

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[1990]
 e-ISSN: 2582-5208
International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:05/Issue:03/March-2023 Impact Factor- 7.868 www.irjmets.com
Foam & foaming agent: foam is a dispersion of a gas in liquid or in solid. Foam is produce by distribution of
gas in a liquid under the influence of a foaming medium, such as soap, oil, acid or a wetting agent. During the
production small bubbles are formed and are separated from liquid by a membrane, clearly, there are many
different types of foam with various application. Therefore, there are many different industries, which use
foam-like products.

The density of the foamed concrete is a function of the volume of foam that is added to the cement paste. To
ensure that the desired percentage air is entrained in the mixture, pre-foaming; where the foaming agent is
aerated being added to the mixture is used. The aerated foaming agent, on mixing with the cement-based slurry
entrains a controlled quality of air in uniformly Dispersed discreet cavities.
Water-Binder ratio: The foam content was fixed at 0.94 %, the water- binder ratio was change in the range of
0.35-0.55, and the preparation process was repeated. As the water-binder ratio increases, the consistency of the
slurry decreases, the fluidity increases, and the stability of the concrete structure decreases. In addition, the
shear resistance of the slurry to the bubbles is also continuously reduce, the bubble continue to float up and
tend to concentrated, position. When the water-binder ration is between 0.35 and 0.45, the curve has an
inflection point. The pores of foamed concrete increases with the water-binder ratio, which in turn leads to a
decrease in thermal conductivity.
VI. CASTING OF CUBE
A. Material fineness
All the material should be mixed evenly and no material should be in the size of the granular it will result in the
differential settlement which will result in the strength of the concrete. A machine like a ball milling can be used
to break all the granular particles. All the material will be feed into the machine and the iron ball will be added
equal to the weight to grind the material into micro particles.
B. Mixing of concrete
All the material are evenly mixed using concrete mixer and foam is created separately with the pressurized air
and it is mixed with material after it has mixed. Mixing of concrete should be even and gentle vigorous mixing
will result in breakage of bubbles.
C. Placement
As the workability of concrete is high there is no need for compaction, the flow of concrete is high so that the
concrete should be placed before it starts to settle.
D. Curing
As the foam is presented in the concrete it should not be placed or immersed inside the water which will result
in the weakening of concrete. The curing has been done for 7, 14, 28 days.
VII. ADVANTAGE
 Low density and high strength
 High fluidity
 Well - bonded body
 Self - leveling and self – compacting
 Reliability

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[1991]
 e-ISSN: 2582-5208
International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:05/Issue:03/March-2023 Impact Factor- 7.868 www.irjmets.com
 Resistance to cold and warmth
 Superior fire-resistance
 Eco-compatibility
 Variety of use
 Rapid construction
VIII. MIX DESIGN
There is no standard method for proportioning foamed concrete (i.e., mix design), but it is a specified target
plastic density that becomes a prime design criterion. On the basis of target plastic density, a theoretical mix
design has to be formulated and site trials are undertaken and the result from the site trials are used as mix
design for the foamed concrete. A tolerance on plastic density was considered about 100 kg/m 3 of the target
plastic density. Assuming a target plastic density of 1850 kg/m3.
IX. CONCLUSION
On the basis of the review carried out, it was found that most studies on foam concrete have been conducted to
evaluate on foam features rather than its properties. The compressive strength is considered as primary work
of the desirable density design as a main consideration for light weight concrete which can ultimately can be
used to manufacture structural, non or semi-structural components. Simultaneously, the durability is another
property of foamed concrete that should be on a level which can allow it to effectively resist aggressive
environment. This can be achieved by selecting the most appropriate type foam agent added. Foam agent
produce a uniformed distribution of pores where they reduce the segregation problem. The purpose of the
above review is primary to evaluate the present physical property of foam concrete and then expanded to
improve the foam concrete design ratio and using supplements such as selecting ingredients as partial
replacement for Portland cement is used mine dust in the form of partial/complete foamy solid aggregate and
enriching the workability of foamed concrete in the fresh state with an appropriate amount of plasticizers
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to our guide Ms. Khushaboo , Assistant Professor in
Department of Civil Engineering, Bansal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow. Without her wise
counsel and able guidance, it would have impossible to complete this review paper.
X. REFERENCES
[1] Z. Huang, T. Zhang, and Z. Wen, “Proportioning and characterization of Portland cement-based ultra-
lightweight foam concretes, ” Construction and Building Material, vol. 79, pp. 390-396, 2015.
[2] G. Indu Siva Ranjani and K. Ramamurthy, “Behaviour of foam concrete under sulphate environments, ”
Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 34, no. 7, pp. 825-834, 2012.
[3] Paul J Tikalskya & James pospisil, 2004. A method for assessment of the freeze-thaw resistance of
preformed foam cellular concrete. Cement and Concrete Research, 34:889-83.
[4] Leilei Zhang & Wuxiang Wang. 2010. Research progress of foamed concrete and application. Building
Block and Block Building, (1): 38-42. China.
[5] Prof. Veena G. Pathan, Prof. Md. GulfamPathan Feasibility and need of use of waste Marble Powder in
Concrete Production.
[6] Vaidevi C, Study on marble dust as partial replacement of cement in concrete, Indian journal of
engineering, 2013, 4(9), 14-16.
[7] R.C. Valore Jr., Cellular concrete Part 2 physical properties, ACI J. Proc. 50 (6) (1954).
[8] Puttappa C.G “Mechanical Properties of Foamed Concrete- ICCBT 2008 - A - (43) – pp491-500”.
[9] IS: 456:2000 “Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice”.
[10] K. Ramamurthy, E.K. Nambiar, G.I.S. Ranjani, A classification of studies on properties of foam concrete,
Cem. Concr. Compos. 31 (6) (2009) 388-396.
[11] Amran Y.H.M. Influence of structural parameters on the properties of fibred-Foamed concrete. Innov.
Infrastruct. Solut. 2020.
[12] Panesar D.K. Cellular concrete properties and the effect of synthetic and protein foaming agents.
Constr. Build. Mater. 2013;44:575-584.

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