LIGHT WEIGHT CONCRETE

Lightweight concrete is defined as the concrete which is having an oven dry density not
exceeding 2000 kg/m3, but it can be as low as 800 kg/m3 depending on the kind of materials
used. Compressive strength can vary from 1 to 65 N/mm2.

The elastic modulus of lightweight concretes is lower than the equivalent strength normal
weight concrete, but when considering the deflection of a beam, slab or column, this is
counteracted by the reduced self-weight.

The basic design for lightweight concrete is covered in Eurocode, with section 11 having
particular rules and regulations required for this type of aggregate concretes. Concrete is
considered to be lightweight, if the density is not more than 2200kg/m3 (the density of normal
weight concrete is assumed from 2300kg/m3 to 2400kg/m3) and a proportion of the aggregate
should have a density less than 2000kg/m3. Lightweight concrete can be defined using the
notation LC(light weight concrete) for the strength class, e.g LC(Light Weight
Concrete)30/33, which represents a lightweight concrete with a cube strength of 33MPa and a
cylinder strength of 33MPa.

The lighter the concrete, the greater should be the differences to be notes for in the properties
of the concrete. The ultimate strain, tensile strength and shear strengths are all lower than a
normal weight concrete with the same strength of cylinder. Lightweight concretes are also
less stiff than equivalent normal strength concrete. However, this is mitigated by the
reduction in self-weight of the concrete to be carried, so the overall effect tends to be a slight
lower in the depth of a beam, column or slab.

Creep and shrinkage for lightweight concretes are higher than that for the equivalent normal
weight concrete or any other type of concrete, and this should be taken into consideration
when designing the structure.

Batching of lightweight concretes is done from ready-mixed concrete producers. During low
workability, the concrete can easily be placed by chute or skip. Pumping lightweight concrete
can be attained, but care needs to be taken into consideration so that the concrete mix doesn’t
separate. For pumpable mixes, it is usual to take use of a natural sand, i.e. not to have a
lightweight aggregate for the mix of the fine proportion and to have a high workability of the
concrete so that increased blockage and pump friction is avoided. This is achieved with the
use of plasticizers and super plasticizers. Over vibration of this type of concrete can cause
segregation and flowing concrete is best used when it is to be pumped as it requires only less
vibration.

There are three main methods of production of the lightweight concrete are:
• The use of lightweight aggregates
• Incorporation of voids by aeration
• Little or no fine aggregate addition
 The use of Lightweight concrete has been a feature in the construction and building industry
for long period of time, but like other material the expectations of the performance of the
material have raised and now we are expecting a uniform, consistent, reliable material and
predictable characteristics.
Structural Light Weight Concrete has an in-place density (unit weight) from 1440 to 1840
kg/m³ compared to normal weight concrete having a density in the range of 2240 to 2400
kg/m³. From structural point of view, the strength of the concrete should be greater than 2500
psi (17.0 MPa).

Classification of Lightweight Concrete:

Classification of light weight concrete is based on their method of production.

These are:

1. By using porous lightweight aggregate of low specific gravity, i.e. the specific gravity is
lower than 2.6. This type of concrete is generally known as lightweight aggregate concrete.
2. By introducing large number of voids within the mortar or concrete, these voids should be
clearly distinguished from the fine voids or pores produced by air entrainment. This types of
concrete is generally knows as cellular, aerated, foamed or gas concrete.
3. By removing the fine aggregate from the mix so that a large number of interstitial voids
(voids present between two small particles) is present; normal weight coarse aggregate is
used. This concrete is known as no-fines concrete.
Light Weight Concrete can also be classified on the basis of which it is to be used: it can
distinguish between structural lightweight concrete and the concrete used in masonry units,
and insulating concrete. The classification is based on the minimum strength of the concrete,
according to ASTM C 330-82a, the compressive strength at 28th day should not be less than
17 MPa.

The density of these type of concrete should not exceed 1840 kg/m³, and is usually range
from 1400 to 1800 kg/m³. On the other hand, masonry concrete generally has a density range
from 500 to 800 kg/m³ and the strength of 7 and 14 MPa.

Advantages of light weight concrete

1. Purity of aggregate: man-made
2. Lower dead load
3. Better physical properties: lower modulus, lower coefficient of thermal expansion, easier
drilling.
4. Improved durability: This is because of the reduced likelihood of shrinkage and early
thermal cracking, lower permeability and etc.
5. Environmental problems: The benefit can be significant of industrial waste products are
used to manufacture LWA.
6. Offshore Platforms construction: additional buoyancy, better cracking behaviour, lower
permeability, improved freeze-thaw resistance, savings on transport, etc.

Disadvantages of light weight concrete

1. Reduced resistance to locally concentrated loads
2. More brittle
3. Greater care is required in controlling water content, mixing, and supervision.
4. Special measures for pumping concrete

Materials- Fine, Coarse Aggregates, Binder, Chemical

Admixtures
1. Earlier lightweight aggregates (LWAs) were of natural origin, mostly volcanic: pumice,
tuf, etc.
2. They function as active pozzolonic materials when used as fine aggregates.
3. Techniques have been developed to produce them in factories. These are produced from
the naturally occurred raw materials such as expanded shale, clay, slate, etc., as well as from
by-products such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, etc.
4. Today, lightweight aggregates are produced in a very wide range of densities varying from
50kg/m3 to 1000kg/m3 for clinkers. It is possible to make Light Weight Aggregate Concrete
of 80Mpa compressive strength.
5. Those occurring naturally and are ready to use only with mechanical treatment, i.e.,
crushing and sieving.
6. Those occurred or manufactured by thermal treatment from either naturally producing
materials or from by products, waste materials, etc of the industry. The industrial by products
are pulverized fly ash, blast furnace slag, industrial waste, sludge, etc. These are produced
either by expansion or agglomeration. The heat treatment is carried out in different kind of
industrial furnaces, such as rotary kilns.
7. Light Weight Aggregates from industrial by products: - Expanded pelletized fly ash
aggregates. Lower quality fly ash with a higher variable carbon content is used for making
LWA by adding extra pulverized coal to bring the carbon content to about 12%, and then pan
pelletizing and heat treating then on a travelling grate. Lightweight aggregates from blast
furnace slag (Palletized slag).
8. Normally, the LWA is confined to the coarse fraction which means a particle size from
2mm to 4mm and sometimes even larger.  In such cases, use of lightweight fines may be the
optical solution.

Fresh and hardened concrete properties:

It represents that the results of an experimental test on the hardened and fresh state of self-
compacting light-weight concrete get strength with the help of steel fibres. There are many
categories of Self Compacting light-weight Concrete which were made up of fine or coarse
 light weight aggregates. For reinforcement steel fibres are used in fibre volume fraction
of .5%. Slump flow is used as inverted slump flow and test which is performed is “V” funnel
test so as to characterize the self-compacting behaviour of the light weight concretes. Let’s
talk about the mechanical behaviour, it was evaluated that for compression, tensile and
flexural tests. Thermal characterization of the light weight concrete was performed by
thermal diffusivity, heat energy, and physical phenomenon tests. There are many other tests
which are described within the study which are motor vehicle generous and drying shrinkage
tests. Slump flow among 600–700 millimetres (mm) is showed in the result while
not segregation even for fibre strengthened Self Compacting Light Concrete mixes. All mixes
have shown 14 and 28-day compressive strength which is obviously higher than 30 Mega
Pascal and density between 1700–1900 kg/m3. The fibre reinforcement has generally
increased the mechanical behaviour and properties below bending and tensile tests on the
materials. In additional, adequate thermal insulation properties were checked to compare it to
normal-weight concrete. Moreover, autogenic shrinkages have around one hundred
fifty small strain. Finally, concretes containing fine and coarse light-
weight mixtures having higher drying shrinkage than those of coarse light-weight aggregate.
In last few decades, the employment of admixtures generally mineral and chemical in
concrete technology has crystal rectifier to changes within the blender and formulation style
that has created the concrete sturdy and a lot stronger. In terms of decreasing the loading of
the structure, Light-weight concrete (LWC) is a wonderful resolution, whereas self-
compacting concrete (SCC) eases the running and removes construction issues.
Combining the benefits of SCC and Light weight concrete may be a new field of analysis.
Taking into account, its light weight of the structure and easy placement, Light-weight self-
compacting concrete (LWSCC) could also be the answer to the increasing
construction needs of heavily strengthened structural parts and a slender. 21 laboratory
experimental investigations and experiments on the combination proportion, mechanical and
density properties of LWSCC are revealed within the last 20 years and
these are analyzed during this study.

Applications of Light Weight Concrete:

1. Thickening and screeds for main purposes and weight to floors roofs and other members of
the structures.
2. Screeds and walls where timber has to be fix by nailing.
3. Casting steel structures to protect it against corrosion resistance and fire or as a covering for
architectural and building purposes.
4. Heat insulation on roofs and Insulating water pipes.
5. In framed structures, Construction of partition and panel walls and to Fix bricks to get nails
from principally in domestic, joinery, or domestic type construction.
6. General insulation of the walls.
7. For small houses, Surface rendered for external walls.
8. It is also being used for reinforced concrete.
9. Lightweight Concrete is generally used in the production of single skin lightweight concrete
wall panels. This is an ideal situation for the production of light commercial factories and
structures as well as residential or commercial housing.
10. Lightweight Concrete can be used as a filling material to provide insulation between dense
weight concrete or other material. This is ideal for use in fire rated structures like munitions
storage facilities, solvent store, etc.
11. Sandwich panels with many floor materials, using Lightweight Concrete as columns, beam
& filler to increase the acceptance for partition walls in office complexes, shopping malls,
commercial walling, and internal walls of the residential houses and flats.
12. It is generally specified for use as a lightweight filling material, or used to provide graded
insulation on roof or floor projects beneath the water proofing membranes.