LECA CONCRETE - LIGHT INSULATION AGGREGATE

IN LIGHT WEIGHT CONCRETE

This paper is prepared about Light weight concrete made from light expanded clay aggregate at
Building & Housing Research Center, which is the research center for Ministry of Housing in Iran.
Here is a summarized translation presented by Leca Co. Iran.

One way for preparing building member in lightweight concrete is by using light expanded clay
aggregate. For the first time, this kind of concrete was discovered in 1917. In different countries of
the world, lightweight aggregate has produced and named differently and paid attention with
increasing rate. In Iran, this aggregate is named LECA or manufactured aggregate. LECA is
abbreviated form of light expanded clay aggregate.

The purpose of this paper is to obtain highest possible compressive strength for Leca concrete while
noting the advanced technology in producing lightweight concrete. This paper covers necessary
mechanical properties for designing and manufacturing in following order:

1. Compressive strength
2. Tensile strength
3. Bond strength of reinforcement to concrete
4. Durability and effect of freezing and thawing, fire and chemical attack
5. Modulus of elasticity
6. Creep
7. Drying shrinkage
8. Coefficient of thermal expansion
9. Thermal properties
10. Acoustical properties

Results obtained from this study shows that making building components from lightweight Leca
concrete is possible. In fact it is more economical to use Leca concrete rather than ordinary concrete
in constructing building since lighter weight of building also includes:
Easy transportation, less reinforcement use and reduction in dimensions of foundation.
Usually, with increasing density of Leca concrete its strength gets higher; this kind of concrete is
used for slopping drainage and thermal resisting elements with low density (400-1000 Kg/m3), non
structural elements with medium density (1000-1300 Kg/m3) and load resisting structural elements
with high density (1300-1800 Kg/m3) *1. Leca concrete for structural elements must have design
compressive strength of at least 150 Kg/cm2 and density of at most 1800 Kg/m3.
Structural components made of Leca concrete have been used in America for the past fifty years.
Leca concrete with compressive strength of higher than 70.3 Kg/cm2 is considered usable in building
construction. *2
For Leca concrete with density of less than 1841 Kg/m3, compressive strength of 633 Kg/cm2 has
been reported (2). Leca concrete, comparing with other lightweight concrete, possesses a very high
strength to density ratio. Lightweight concrete can be used in making structural elements and save
money, specially, in: high-rise building, building on a low strength soil and also where there is not
sufficient coarse aggregate mines. It can be used also instead of ordinary concrete in making:

1. Casting concrete for making: bridges, buildings, roads and etc.
2. Precasting: joists, walls in different sizes, floor and roof panels and other structural
components.
3. Production of: hollow and solid blocks of load bearing and non-load bearing units.


*1) Design compressive strength in about 95 percent of particular concrete mixture
specimen must have compressive strength above that of the design compressive strength
*2) The number in parentheses referees to the number of reference in table of references.

In addition to what has been mentioned, by using Leca aggregate one can get lightweight concrete with strength
equal to that of ordinary concrete but with about 1/3 lower density.

Federation international de la precontrainte (FIP) has reported annual production of Leca aggregate about
23073000 m3 in most countries of the world in about 1975.

Leca concrete like ordinary one can be prepared by mixing aggregate (Leca or Leca and Sand), cement and
water. In Leca concrete instead of using ordinary aggregates one uses Leca aggregate or Leca and ordinary
sand. Heating wetted and formed clay soil at 1300 degree centigrade in a kiln produces Leca aggregate. In
heating process, the gasses are produced, condensed, escaped from aggregate and finally causes voids inside
aggregates. Production of Leca aggregate is accomplished by different means. In Iran, they are produced by
expansion of moist clay soil in a rotary kiln.


# AGGREGATE AND GRADATION

In ordinary concrete different gradation of aggregates affects the required amount of water. Addition
of some fine aggregate results an increase in required amount of water. This increase of water
reduces concrete strength unless the amount of cement in the same time increases. Amount of
coarse aggregate and its biggest size depends on the required workability of concrete mixture. Also
in lightweight concrete, this relation exists among: the graduation, requested amount of water and
obtained concrete strength, but there are other factors that must be paid attention to. In most
lightweights aggregate as the size of aggregate increases the modulus of deformation, strength and
bulk density of the aggregate decreases. Using very big size light weight aggregate with a lower
strength results into a lower strength of the lightweight concrete; therefore, biggest size of lightweight
aggregate must be limited to 25 millimeter at most.

With using smaller size of lightweight aggregate and increasing the percent age of ordinary fine
aggregate, although, increases the density of lightweight concrete, but its strength will be increased
also. For example, if the biggest size of lightweight aggregate reduces from 25 to 16 millimeter the
obtained Leca concrete strength will increase about 30 percent. Mostly, ordinary fine aggregate is
added to coarse lightweight aggregate for: better workability, reduction of shrinkage of fresh concrete
mixture, increasing concrete strength and, or better economy. For example, using ten volume
percent of ordinary fine aggregate instead of fine light weight aggregate, bulk density, and increases
about 100 Kg per cubic meter while the modulus of deformation increases about 20 percent. With
this substitution, workability also gets better.

Because of heavier weight of: Cement, water and ordinary fine aggregate mixture coarse lightweight
aggregate may rise to the top and results in a nonhomogeneous concrete mixture. For avoiding this
nonhomogeneity, it is necessary to control the required amount of water. Adding bentonite that is a
kind of clay soil about one to two percent weight of cement used in concrete mixture results and
increase of mortar viscosity, which causes a homogeneous lightweight concrete mixture. Air
entrainment admixture also reduces the danger of nonhomogeneity.

For preventing nonhomogeneity of concrete mixture, one can use suitable amount of fine aggregate
smaller than 03.25 millimeter in size. It is shown in table 2 that for lightweight concrete, especially
those with round and smooth surface of coarse aggregates, amount of required fine aggregate
depends on the maximum size of coarse aggregate used.

Table 2- Amount of required fine aggregate in respect to the max. size of coarse aggregate.

Amount of fine aggregate in one Max. size of coarse
Cubic meter of compacted concrete aggregate in millimeter
(Cement + fine aggregate smaller
than 0.25 millimeter in size)

Kilogram 525 - 180 Lit 8
450 - 150 16
420 - 140 25

Substituting ordinary sand for some light fine aggregate results to increase the strength of concrete obtained.
This increase of strength is noticeable in two following reasons:

1. Water absorption in light fine aggregates with angular and rough surface is more than in ordinary fine
aggregate with round and smooth surface: Therefore, using all light fine aggregate increases the water-
cement ratio and decreases the strength.

2. Ordinary sand-cement mortar is stronger than light sand-cement mortar. When ordinary sand is used
instead of light weight sand, for better workability, the maximum size of sand must be smaller than two
millimeter, better workability results in using less sand (about 20 to 30 percent of total volume) and
reduction of weight of concrete . When using lightweight sand, especially for vertical component with
exposed surface, more cement is required. While using ordinary river sand, less cement is required, it
must be noticed that using low amount of cement mortar in concrete mixture makes the compaction
difficult, with not enough compaction, too much pores is produced in concrete; and concrete with low
strength will be obtained. On the other hand, using high amount of cement mortar, especially when
there is too much water in the mixture, increases the risk of nonhomogeneity and raising the lightweight
coarse aggregate up to the top surface of the mixture. In some cases (with suitable mixing and pouring
concrete) one can use high amount of cement mortar with ordinary sand aggregate or air entrainment
admixture. In making lightweight concrete, similar to ordinary concrete, one can use aggregate both
uniform and nonuniform in gradation. Suitable gradation depends on required strength, weight
workability, amount of available aggregate and facilities for storing lightweight aggregates in different
sizes. Uniform gradation makes better homogeneous concrete mixture (4). For economic reasons, it is
better to use heavier and stronger lightweight aggregate along with less cement for constant strength of
concrete obtained. With heavier and stronger lightweight aggregate, the ratio of lightweight aggregate to
ordinary sand increases in order to obtain stronger concrete with constant density. For getting
lightweight concrete with higher strength and constant amount of cement, lightweight aggregate with
higher density is required. In fact there is an optimum real density of aggregate for each specific
concrete density, which gives the highest strength of concrete obtained. It must be noted again that
higher amount of heavier light weight aggregate and less amount of ordinary sand used, results to
constant density and higher strength of concrete. In this study Leca lightweight concrete specimens
made from one type of aggregate (with specific real density) and two type of gradation of aggregates
were used.

# AMOUNT OF CEMENT REQUIRMENT

Amount of required cement for specific strength of concrete depends on different type of lightweight aggregate
used. In fact amount of cement required for specific strength of concrete depends on strength and modulus of
deformation of aggregate used and also on amount of free water and required workability. With increasing
amount of cement, the strength of lightweight concrete increases. For making sure of: suitable workability,
durability, protection of reinforcement from rusting and adequate bond strength between concrete and
reinforcement one must use more than 300 kilogram cement per one cubic meter of concrete. On the other
hand, increasing amount of cement in the mixture results to increase: the creep, shrinkage, heat of hydration of
cement and the danger of cracking of concrete; therefore, less than 500 kilogram of cement per one cubic meter
of concrete must be used.
Because of high real density of cement (about 3100 kilogram per cubic meter) with increasing amount of cement, the
density of concrete increases. Adding 50 kilogram cement in one cubic meter of concrete results an increase
in concrete density of about 30 kilogram per cubic meter. With increasing the strength of cement, for specific
strength of concrete, amount of required cement decreases. That makes a concrete with lower density.



# AMOUNT OF WATER REQUIRMENT

The amount of water in lightweight concrete includes: free or effective water between aggregates and
water in pores of aggregates. Effective water, which is the major part of water in the mixture, is in the
cement paste, and this is the amount of water that determines the strength and workability. Amount
of free water depends on; Max. size of aggregate, amount of slump for required workability, shape
and texture of aggregate and with less percent on the amount of cement used in the mixture. Light
weight Leca aggregate which is produced in rotary kiln, because of their round and smooth surface,
their water absorption is much less than that of light weight aggregates with angular and rough
surface. Amount of the slump of concrete mixture depends on: the type of structural component and
the facilities and method for compacting the concrete mixture.
When the hand vibrator (which is dipped into the concrete mixture) is used, concrete mixture must be
pastely. Concrete mixture with excessive water must be avoided. Water absorption of lightweight
aggregate with too much pores is much more then that of ordinary aggregates (river aggregates).
Determination of amount of water absorption in these kinds of aggregates, because of varying
amount of absorbed water, is difficult. That makes the design of concrete mixture with lightweight
aggregate with too much pores somewhat difficult. Leca aggregate produced in rotary kiln, because
of their smooth surface, has water absorption nearly equal (somewhat more) to that of ordinary
aggregate; therefore, design of light weight concrete mixture with Leca aggregate is as difficult as
that of ordinary aggregate. For determining the amount of each ingredient in lightweight concrete
mixture (along with the amount of absorbed water in light weight aggregates, specially those with too
much pores with rough and angular surface, by making different mixtures) one can use the common
design methods of ordinary concrete mixture. Since the complete explanation of these methods is
beyond the scope of this task, only a brief explanation on this regard is given below:
Amount of dried aggregate for one cubic meter of compacted concrete is about 1.15 to 1.22 cubic
meter in bulk volume. But for spherical aggregate with complete uniform gradation is about 1.05
cubic meter in bulk volume. The total volume of fresh concrete mixture consists of the real volume of:
cement, aggregate, water and total volume of pores including those, which have been made by air
entrainment admixture (air entrainment admixture is added to concrete mixture to make concrete with
higher resistance to intense freezing and thawing environment).
One cubic meter of light weight concrete, like ordinary concrete, nearly consists of the sum of real
volume of: 0.1 cubic meter of cement, 0.7 cubic meter of aggregate and 0.2 cubic meter of water and
air. When estimated volumes of water, air and cement are subtracted from the total volume (one
cubic meter) of compacted concrete, the remainder will be the volume of aggregate in (one cubic
meter of) compacted concrete. With the use of suitable amount of aggregate and cement, one can
prepare a trial mixture, and then add enough water to get concrete mixture with required workability.
Calculation for specified volume of fresh concrete and amount of each ingredient in the mixture is
performed. Amount of each ingredient in concrete mixture is calculated and their amount is adjusted.
Making trial mixtures is continued until satisfactory amount of each ingredient is obtained. For trial
mixtures it is necessary to determine: the density of aggregate, amount of moisture in aggregate, the
optimum ratio of coarse aggregate to fine aggregate and amount of cement required for specified
concrete strength.

# MAKING LECA CONCRETE SPECIMENTS AND
DETERMINING THEIR STRENGTH

By mixing: Leca aggregate and ordinary sand with two type of gradation, water and cement, Leca
concrete mixtures are prepared and casted in two form of molds: one cubic (15 x 15 x 15 cm) and the
other cylindrical (15 cm diameter by 30 cm height). 24 hours after casting, Leca concrete specimens
were removed form the molds and conditioned in water tank with about 22 C temperature until the
ages of 7 and 28 days. Then the specimens were tested for compression (cubic specimens) and
indirect tensile splitting strength (cylindrical specimens). After testing the first group of specimens, it
is determined that the optimum total water to cement ratio for heights strength of Leca concrete is
about 0.62 for 300 kilograms of cement and 0.63 for 350 kilograms of cement in one cubic meter of
compacted Leca concrete. Noting this optimum ratio of total water to cement, another groups of cubic
and cylindrical specimens respectively for compression and indirect tensile splitting strength tests
were made. Compacting specimens were accomplished by first rodding 20 times (a round rod with
1.5 centimeter diameter and 951 grams weight) and then compacting 20 times (a one end flat rod
with rectangular 2.5x10 centimeter flatness and 823 grams weight) in three layers.

EXPLANATION:
Compacting Leca concrete components in production line (here by rodding) can be accomplished by
pressing and at the same time vibrating in such a way to obtain a homogeneous concrete mixture.
Research that has been done in this regards in different countries of the world all agree on one thing
that frequency of vibration for compacting light weight concrete with lightweight aggregate must be
higher than that for compacting ordinary concrete. Although, they suggest different optimum
frequency ranging from 12000 to 20000 cycles/min.

Amount by weight of Leca and sand aggregate for one cubic meter of compacted Leca concrete in two different
gradations is given in table No.7 below.
After testing the cubic and cylindrical specimens. The following results were obtained:
Total of six group specimens were made and tested. The sixth group consists of only six cubic specimens, three
of them 15x15x15 centimeter and other three-10x10x10 centimeter in dimension. Gradation of aggregate used
in making these specimens is shown in table No. 13 and compaction was accomplished by three minutes
vibration on vibrating table. Results from 28-day compression test were obtained as follow:

Table 13: The Ratio of Leca and sand
Rerain of seive (weight)

Seive No
(mm)
Aggregate + Seive (kg)
9.5 Leca 114
4.9 Leca 160
2. 36 Sand 361
1.4 Leca 52
0.6 Leca 108
0.3 Sand 152
0.15 Sand 76
<0.15 Sand 76

By studying the results of all reports published in U.S.A, the relationship between amount of cement
used and 28 day compressive strength of Leca concrete specimens have been obtained (7).
This relationship is for Leca concrete specimens that have been conditioned in moist room and their
slump mixtures are about 5 to 10 centimeter. This relation is linear and is shown in figure No. 3
below:
C = 3 +
1000
CU

C = amount of cement in package for one cubic yard of Leca concrete
Cu = 28 day compressive strength in Psi
Or
C = 196.2 + 0.9302 Cu
C= amount of cement in Kilogram per cubic meter
Cu= 28 day compressive strength in Kg/cm2


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For one package of cement equal to 50 Kilograms
Estimated amount of cement form figure 3, noting different kind of aggregate and required
workability, can vary about 65.4 kilogram in cubic meter.
As mentioned before with increasing the density of Leca aggregate, the strength

And modulus of deformation of there aggregates increases. Although (with constant volume ratio of
light weight aggregate to ordinary sand) the density of obtained Leca concrete increases, but the
strength of Leca concrete with this heavier Leca aggregate increases also. Relation between
different weight of Leca aggregate and 28 day compressive strength of Leca concrete cubic
specimens made from these aggregate is shown in figure 4 below:




Compressive strength of ordinary concrete, especially with medium and low amount of cement,
mostly depends on the strength of its mortar and less on the strength of ordinary aggregates used.
On the other hand, compressive strength of Leca concrete mostly depends on the strength of its
aggregates and less on the strength of its mortar.
Effect of size and shape of Leca concrete specimens on its strength is like those of ordinary concrete
specimens. The ratio of compressive strength of specimens mentioned below to the compressive
strength of cubic specimen, 20x20x20 centimeter, with the same concrete is as follows:




SPECIMENTS COMPRESIVE STRENGTH RATIO
Cylindrical, 15 centimeter 0.8 - 0.85
Diameter by 30-centimeter height
Cubic, 15x15x15 centimeter 1.00 - 1.10

# BOND STRENGTH OF REINFORCEMENT TO LECA CONCRETE

Bond strength between reinforcement and concrete determines the design of anchorage and effect
on crack width and distance in reinforced concrete. This bond strength depends on the following
factors:
1- Surface condition of reinforcement (plane or deformed reinforcement)
2- Concrete strength
3- Percent compaction of concrete next to reinforcement
4- Quality of mortar between aggregates
5- Strength of deformation of aggregate under concentrated load on surface of reinforcement
6- Modulus of deformation of concrete

Lightweight aggregate compare with ordinary aggregate has lower strength under concentrated load.
Therefore, lightweight concrete compare with ordinary concrete under lower bond stress on surface
of deformed reinforcement is failed and crushed.
Although the strength of mortar in both kind of concrete (Light and ordinary) be equal, but the bond
strength of deformed reinforcement in light weight concrete is lower than that of ordinary concrete. In
other words, if mortar strength in lightweight concrete were higher than that in ordinary concrete, the
bond strength of deformed reinforcement in lightweight concrete can be higher than that of ordinary
concrete.
The strength of coarse aggregate has a small effect on bond strength of plane reinforcement to the
concrete, and the most effect is from the mortar strength. Tests of pulling reinforcement from
concrete specimens and beams held in building research site in England have shown that the bond
strength of plane reinforcement in light weight concrete, usually, is lower than that of ordinary
concrete. For Leca concrete this bond strength is nearly equal to that of ordinary concrete (11).
Bond strength with adding ordinary sand to light weight concrete mixture gets better.
As mentioned, bond strength of reinforcement in lightweight concrete is lower than that in ordinary
concrete. According to ACI* code, the design of bond strength of deterred reinforcement to Light
weight concrete is lower than that of ordinary concrete by a factor of 1.33.

# TENSILE STRENGTH OF LECA CONCRETE

Some mechanical properties of reinforced concrete such as: shear strength, bond strength of
reinforcement to concrete and resistance to cracking depends on tensile strength of concrete.
Indirect tensile splitting test is used for estimating diagonal tensile strength of structural components.
Tests have shown that there is a close relationship between indirect tensile splitting strength and
diagonal tensile strength in structural components.
Modulus of rupture* - Figure No. 5 below shows the results from study that has been done in
America about relation between modulus of rupture and 28 day compressive strength in light weight
concrete with different kind of light weight aggregates. Base on the results from this study, one can,
on safe side, obtain the modulus of rupture from the relationship given below:

M.R. 0.06 cu 100 or M.R. 0.06 cu 7.031
CU = 28 day compressive strength CU = 28 day compressive strength
in psi and for in Kg/cm2 and for

M.R.= Modulus of rupture for 28 day specimens in psi 28 day specimens in Kg/cm2
CU 1000-psi CU 70.3 Kg/cm2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*American Concrete Institution * Modulus of rupture = tensile strength in bending
Deformation of Leca concrete - is done by following factors:

1- External loads (elastic and creep)
2- Hardening and changing the percent of moisture (shrinkage and expansion)
3- Changing temperature

Elastic deformation accrues as soon as the external loads are applied. This deformation depends on
momentarily deferability of hard cement paste and aggregates proportional with the percent of their
volume acceptation in concrete and the magnitude of applied load. Result from uniaxial compression
test shows that the variation of stress and strain in Leca concrete (specially with ordinary sand) is like
that of ordinary concrete. Maximum compressive strain at the peak load of crushing in both ordinary
and Leca concrete is about 2000
6
10

, 3500
6
10

# MODULUS OF ELASTICITY OF LECA CONCRETE

Modulus of elasticity of concrete depends on the modulus of elasticity of each ingredient in concrete,
namely aggregates and hard mortar. Modulus of elasticity relates to the percent of volume
acceptation of each ingredient that is aggregates and hard mortar. This relationship also depends on
the type of Leca aggregate, its compressive strength and density. Modulus of elasticity of Leca
concrete varies between 5000 to 24000 N/mm2 (8). Amount of modulus of elasticity of lightweight
concrete is estimated by pauw (17) through the equation given below:

Ecj (modulus of deformation) = 0.04 fcj W
3


In this equation: Ecj is the secant modulus of light weight concrete in the age of j days in N/mm2, W
is the bulk density of air dried 28 day specimen in Kg/m3 and fcj is the j day compressive strength of
cubic specimen in N/mm2.
Pauws relationship may give the modulus of elasticity of Leca concrete more or less than what relay
is; specially when we design light weight concrete with steel and ordinary concrete as a composite
design, since the modulus of elasticity of each composite material is important for determining
stresses, the modulus of elasticity of light weight concrete must be determined by test correctly.


# CREEP

Creep is the deformation of concrete under constant load as time passes. This deformation is
imposed on concrete in addition to the deformation that takes place by: instantaneous deflection as
soon as load is applied, shrinkage caused by drying and decreasing ambient temperature. Effect of
creep in the case of reducing stresses caused by shrinkage can be useful. But usually, creep for
increasing deflection of structural components is harmful and not suitable. In reference No. 8,
medium range of creep of lightweight concrete in creep strain for unit of stress has determined equal
to (6.5 - 9 ) x
5
10

per N/
2
mm .
Since the creep deformation is the result of hard cement paste deflection under permanent load,
amount of creep deformation increases as the amount of hard cement paste increases. Creep
deformation depends on both the quantity and quality of cement paste. Creep deformation decreases
as the void in cement paste decreases and strength of cement paste increases.


# SHRINKAGE

Amount of shrinkage depends on the following factors:

1- Amount of cement paste in concrete (amount of cement in concrete)
2- Quality of cement paste
3- Kind of aggregate

Aggregates prevent the shrinkage of hardened cement paste in different degree.
The degree of prevention depends on the modulus of deformation of aggregates.
Kind of aggregate also affects the required quality and quantity of cement paste for specific strength.
Aggregate with low strength and modulus of deformation for specific strength of concrete needs more
cement paste. Not adequate gradation and surface texture of aggregate because of the need of more
water and cement paste for specific workability causes an increase in shrinkage of concrete.
Shrinkage increases as the amount of cement increases. Final shrinkage for Leca concrete with 300-
kilogram cement in one cubic meter of concrete has been obtained about 0.49 - 0.65 mm/m (14).
Concrete with higher amount of cement, about 650 Kilogram or more in one cubic meter of concrete
has shown a final shrinkage about 1.2 mm/m (14). Although, shrinkage in light weight concrete is
more than that of ordinary concrete, but because of lower modulus of elasticity of lightweight
concrete, the stresses caused by constrained shrinkage in both light weight and ordinary concrete is
nearly equal.



# COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION

In concrete, thermal expansion mainly depends on:

Modulus of deformation of aggregates, the volume ratio of aggregate to hard cement paste, percent
moisture in concrete and temperature of concrete.
Coefficient of thermal expansion of Leca aggregates is about 50 to 70 percent lower than that of
ordinary coarse aggregate (about 12x
6
10

/K) (8).
Coefficient of thermal expansion of lightweight concrete is about 6-11x
6
10

/K, and equivalent

amounts for concrete with river coarse and fine ordinary aggregates is about 9-13x
6
10

/K, while for

concrete with limestone aggregates is about 6-9x
6
10

/K (19). Coefficient of thermal expansion is in

lowest amount when the concrete is dry or very wet, while in moderate moisture content (about 5-10
volume percent) it is about 20-30 percent more (8).


# ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES


Amount of reduction of sound (in dB) after passing through the different materials depends on the
density of each material. Studies of: French, German and British regarding acoustical proof shows
that the lightweight concrete made of Leca aggregates with smooth surface performs better than the
relation between increasing density and reduction of sound for other materials. For example, one
Leca concrete wall with 200-millimeter thickness, which has a density of 1000 Kilogram per cubic
meter, acoustically, is equivalent to an ordinary concrete wall with the same thickness and about
twice weights, and is equivalent to a brick wall with 330-millimeter thickness and triple weight.
Medium acoustical proof of all three kinds of walls mentioned above is about 52 dB (20).

# THERMAL PROPERTIES

Thermal conductivity is the amount of heat that passes through the unit thickness of material. Generally, thermal
conductivity of concrete depends on its bulk density and amount of moisture. But, relatively, it depends on the
position of voids, chemical composition of the solid material (crystals, ceramics amorphous, glassy) and
temperature.
Thermal conductivity increases as the density, moisture and temperature increases.
Crystalline material (quartz) conducts heat better than ceramic material. Modern studies emphasize that
coefficient of thermal conductivity increases about 2-6 percent for one volume percent of increasing moisture.
Amount of coefficient of thermal conductivity of Leca concrete that is obtained in practice is given in table No. 14
below (21).
Experiments in temperature ranging 20 to 60 degree centigrade has shown that with changing
temperature, coefficient of thermal conductivity of concrete changes in a very low amount. In
temperature higher than 100 degree centigrade, temperature has a high effect on coefficient of
thermal conductivity of Leca concrete. For example, between 100 C to 1100 C degree centigrade,
coefficient of thermal conductivity increases about 0.2
MK
W
for every 100 K increase.

Table 14: thermal conductivity of Leca with different density and Humidity

Kind of Aggregate Volume weight
Kg/
3
M
Humidity
W.P
Coefficient of
thermal
conductivity
Light expanded clay Aggregate
900 11.8 0.4
Light expanded clay Aggregate
1130 10.8 0.55
Light expanded clay Aggregate
1250 10.3 0.64
Light expanded clay Aggregate
1290 11.2 0.63
L.E.C.A + River sand
1300 5.0 0.50
L.E.C.A + River sand
1400 5.3 0.66
L.E.C.A + River sand
1500 4.8 0.76
L.E.C.A + River sand
1600 5.2 0.87
Light expanded clay Aggregate
1300 9.3 0.64
Light expanded clay Aggregate
1300 11.7 0.67




# DURABILITY OF LIGHT WEIGHT CONCRETE


Durability of lightweight concrete is defined by resisting against: atmosphere, fire, chemical attacks and
mechanical deterioration. Light weight concrete of bending and horizontal components like: bridge deck, parking
places and etc. that expose to severe climate must resist freezing, thawing and desalting. Vertical components
like exposed walls and columns are not affected much by these factors.
Freezing and thawing tests on light weight concrete with different lightweight aggregates (23, 24) has shown that
using air entrainment admixture in concrete mixture increases durability. When dried aggregates is used in
making light weight concrete, light weight concrete with light weight aggregates opposite to ordinary concrete
even without using air entrainment admixture is durable in aggressive environment. This is because of the
existing pores in lightweight aggregate, which act, similar to pores made by air entrainment admixture in
concrete.
This effect is because of lightweight aggregates are permeable, and if lightweight aggregates are saturated one
cannot count on its better durability. Air entrainment admixture is suggested for lightweight concrete exposed to
severe freezing and thawing.


# FIRE RESISTANCE

Generally, fire resistance of concrete depends on the following factors:
1- Structural details
2- Heat conduction
3- Heat capacity
4- Concrete resistance to heat
Coefficient of thermal conductivity of lightweight concrete is less than that of ordinary concrete and shows better
protection against increasing high temperature; therefore, for heat protection, less thickness of lightweight
concrete on reinforcement is required.

Experiments about fire resistance of concrete hold in England and Sweden shows that Leca concrete does not
crack and peel while ordinary concrete made of quartz aggregates severely cracks and peels (25). Until how
new, a reasonable explanation about this different resistance is not given.
With strong supposition, peeling concrete from heat depends on the percent of moisture present in the concrete.


# CHEMICAL STABILITY


Stability of all kind of concrete, light or ordinary, against chemical substances depends on nature and quality of
cement. In aggressive environment, choosing right kind of cement and neutral aggregates is very important.
When used aggregates consist of interconnected pores, resistance for absorption and penetration of aggressive
material into the concrete decreases. Generally, resistance of both kind of concrete, ordinary and Leca, against
aggressive material is nearly equal.