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Factors affecting the strength of structural lightweight aggregate concrete with and without fibers in the 1,200–1,600 kg/m3 density range

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Abstract

Concrete compressive strength decreases significantly with decreasing density and therefore, there are few examples of structural grade concretes with densities below 1,600 kg/m3. Here we show the development of structural lightweight aggregate concrete in the 1,200–1,600 kg/m3 density range. Compressive strengths of up to 36 MPa are obtained at 28 days. By using fibers, mixes with flexural strengths of up to 7 MPa and high ductility in flexure are obtained at 28 days. These results are significantly better than those in existing literature at comparable densities. Compressive strength of lightweight concrete depends on both paste and aggregate properties, while the flexural strength depends mostly on the volume fraction of fibers used.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Alexandre Bauer, Sarah Gaillard, Timothy Hafen, Damian Lüthi, Andrea Korell, and Marc Schultheiss for performing several of the experiments reported here in various student projects at ETH Zürich. Heinz Richner is also thanked for extensive support in the concrete lab at ETH Zürich. Lorenzo Boccadoro, Eike Klingsch, Prof. Mario Fontana, and Prof. Andrea Frangi from ETH Zürich are thanked for help with the overall project and for fruitful and interesting discussions. Arnd Eberhardt from Sika AG is thanked for the design of the modified Füller curve. Erne AG is thanked for providing material and financial support.

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  1. Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland

    Prannoy Suraneni, Paula C. Bran Anleu & Robert J. Flatt

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  1. Prannoy Suraneni
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Correspondence to Robert J. Flatt.

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Suraneni, P., Bran Anleu, P.C. & Flatt, R.J. Factors affecting the strength of structural lightweight aggregate concrete with and without fibers in the 1,200–1,600 kg/m3 density range. Mater Struct 49, 677–688 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0529-2

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