Abstract
Protecting the pavement subgrade to increase the service life of road pavements is an aspect currently being explored. Several alternative pavement subbase materials are being considered, including Lightweight Cellular Concrete (LCC). Due to its lower weight, LCC incorporating industrial by-product, making it sustainable, and ease of use amongst other benefits, is seen as a potential candidate. This paper reports reviewing the potential application of LCC within the pavement structure with a specific application as a subbase. It examines the various properties such as modulus of elasticity, compressive and tensile strength, Water absorption, and freeze-thaw resistance necessary for pavement application. It also assesses its use in the field in Canada considering the design methods utilized. Some limitations and gaps for LCC application in pavements are also established and recommendations on how to further its use and performance. This review concludes that LCC possesses potential as a pavement subbase alternative; however, other mechanical properties like LCC’s fatigue life is essential. A comparative field study is also recommended to monitor actual performance and various factors on performance.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Reference
A. Grupta, P. Kumar, R. Rastogi, Pavement deterioration and maintenance model for low volume roads, Inter. J. Pavement Res. Technol. 4(4) (2011) 195.
M. L. Maher, J. B. Hagan, MAT-758: Constructability Benefits of the Use of Lightweight Foamed Concrete Fill (LFCF) in Pavement Applications, Proc. 2016 Annual Conference of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, London, Ontario, Canada, 2011.
R. B. Mallick, T. El-Korchi, Pavement Engineering: Principles and Practice, CRC Press, FL, USA, 2013.
A. Arulrajah, M. M. Disfani, F. Maghoolpilehrood, S. Horpibulsuk, A. Udonchai, M. Imteaz, Y. J. Du, Engineering and environmental properties of foamed recycled glass as a lightweight engineering material, J. Clean. Prod. 94 (2015) 369–375 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.01.080
American Concrete Institute, Guide for Cast-in-Place Low Density Cellular Concrete. ACI 523.1R-06. ACI, Farmington Hills, MI, USA, 2006.
American Concrete Institute, Guide for Cellular Concretes above 50lb/ft3. ACI 523.3R-14. ACI, Farmmgton Hills, MI, USA, 2014.
R. C. Maruyama, G. Camarini, Properties of cellular concrete for filters, Inter. J. Eng. Technol. 7(3) (2015) 223.
American Society for Testing and Materials, Standard Test Method for Foaming Agents for Use in Producing Cellular Concrete Using Preformed Foam. ASTM C796/C796M. ASTM International. West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2012.
Concrete Society, Foamed concrete- application and specification, Good Concrete Guide 7, Concrete Society, Slough, UK, 2009.
R. A. Barnes, Foamed Concrete: Application and Specification, Excellence in Concrete Construction through Innovation, Kingston University, United Kingdom, 2008.
B. Dolton, M. Witchard, T. J. Smith, Application of lightweight cellular concrete to reconstruction of settlement prone roadways in Victoria, GEOVancouver 2016, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2016.
L. A. Legatski, ‘Cellular Concrete, STP36448S Significance of Tests and Properties of Concrete and Concrete-Making Materials, ASTM International. Edited by P. Klieger and J. Lamond. West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 1994.
K. Ozlutas, Behaviour of ultra-low density foamed concrete, (Doctoral dissertation), University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, 2015.
R. C. Valore, Cellular Concretes: Composition and Method of Preparation, J. American Concr. Inst. 2 (1954) 773–795.
H. K. Kim, J. H. Jeon, H. K. Lee, ‘Workability, and mechanical, acoustic and thermal properties of lightweight aggregate concrete with a high volume of entrained air, Constr. Build. Mater. 29 (2012) 193–200 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CONBUILDMAT.2011.08.067.
M. R. Jones, Foamed concrete for structural use, In Proceedings of one day seminar on foamed concrete: properties, Applications and latest technological developments, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK, 2001, pp. 27–60.
E. P. Kearsley, P. J. Wainwright, The effect of high fly ash content on the compressive strength of foamed concrete, Cem. Concr. Res. 31(1) (2001) 105–112.
M. Turner, Fast set foamed concrete for same day reinstatement of openings in highways, In Proceedings of one day seminar on foamed concrete: properties, Applications and Latest Technological Developments, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK, 2001
M.C.G. Juenger, F. Winnefeld, J. L. Provis, J. H. Ideker, Advances in alternative cementitious binders, Cem. Concr. Res. 41(12) (2011) 1232–1243.
G. McGovem, Manufacture and supply of ready-mix foamed concrete, One-day awareness seminar on foamed concrete: properties, applications and potential, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, 2000, pp 12–25.
M. R. Jones, A. McCarthy, Heat of hydration in foamed concrete: Effect of mix constituents and plastic density, Cem. Concr. Res. 36(6) (2006) 1032–1041.
British Cement Association, Foamed concrete- composition and properties. BCA, Slough, UK, 1994.
G. Yakovlev, J. Kerienė, A. Gailius, I. Girnienė, Cement based foam concrete reinforced by carbon nanotubes, Mater. Sci. [Medžiagotyra] 12(2) (2006) 147–151.
M. R. Jones, K. Ozlutas, L. Zheng, High-volume, ultra-low-density fly ash foamed concrete, Magaz. Concr. Res. 69(22) (2017) 1–11.
E. P. Kearsley, H. F. Mostert, The use of foamcrete in Southern Africa, Proc. ACI Int. Conf on high performance concrete. SP 172–48. Malaysia, 1997, pp. 919–934.
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 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2009.04.006.
E. K. Nambiar, K. Ramamurthy, Influence of filler type on the properties of foam concrete, Cem. Concr. Compos. 28(5) (2006) 475–480.
T. H. Wee, D. S. Babu, T. Tamilselvan, H. S. Lim, Air-void system of foamed concrete and its effect on mechanical properties, Mater. J. 103(1) (2006) 45–52.
K. J. Byun, H. W. Song, S. S. Park, Development of structural lightweight foamed concrete using polymer foam agent, ICPIC-98, Bologna, Italy, 1998.
K. C. Brady, M. R. Jones, G. R. Watts, Specification for foamed concrete. TRL Limited, Crowthorne, UK, 2001.
M. R. Jones, A. McCarthy, Preliminary views on the potential of foamed concrete as a structural material, Magaz. Concr. Res. 57(1) (2005) 21–31.
R.K. Dhir, M. R. Jones, L.A. Nicol, Development of structural grade foamed concrete. Final Report, DETR Research Contract 39/3/385, Las Vegas, NV, USA, 1999, pp. 84.
N. Narayanan, K. Ramamurthy, Structure and properties of aerated concrete: a review, Cem. Concr Compos. 22(5) (2000) 321–329.
E. K. Kunhanandan Nambiar, K. Ramamurthy, Fresh state characteristics of foam concrete, J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 20(2) (2008) 111–117.
M. R. Jones, K. Ozlutas, L. Zheng, Stability and instability of foamed concrete, Magaz. Concr. Res. 68(11) (2016) 542–549.
M. R. Jones, M. J. McCarthy, A. McCarthy, Moving fly ash utilization in concrete forward: a UK perspective, Proc. 2003 Inter. Ash Utilisation Symposium, Centre for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, KY, USA, 2003, pp. 20–22.
E. P. Kearsley, H. F. Mostert, Designing mix composition of foamed concrete with high fly ash contents, In Use of Foamed Concrete in Construction: Proceedings of the International Conference held at the University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, 2005, pp. 29–36.
M. Mohammad, Development of foamed concrete enabling and supporting design, (Doctoral dissertation), University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, 2011.
S. Karl, J. D. Worner, Foamed concrete-mixing and workability, Bartos PJM, editor. Special concrete-workability and mixing, E&FN Spon, London, UK, 1993, pp. 217–224.
A. S. Tarasov, A. S. Kolomatskiy, Heat evolution due to cement hydration in foamed concrete, Magaz. Concr. Res. 62(12) (2010) 895–906.
American Society for Testing and Materials, Standard Test Method for Time of Setting of Hydraulic-Cement Paste by Gillmore Needles. ASTM C266. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2018.
P. Chindaprasirt, U. Rattanasak, Shrinkage behavior of structural foam lightweight concrete containing glycol compounds and fly ash, Mater. Des. 32(2) (2011) 723–727.
M. Y. J. Liu, U. J. Alengaram, M. Z. Jumaat, K. H. Mo, Evaluation of thermal conductivity, mechanical and transport properties of lightweight aggregate foamed geopolymer concrete, Ener. Build. 72 (2014) 238–245 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.12.029.
F. McCormick, Rational proportioning of preformed foam cellular concrete, Amer. Concr. Instit. J. 64(2) (1967) 104–110.
Transportation Association of Canada, Transport Asset Design and Management Guide, TAC, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2013.
M. Hajek, M. Decky, M. Drusa, L. Orininová, W. Scherfel, Elasticity Modulus and Flexural Strength Assessment of Foam Concrete Layer of Poroflow, IOP Conference Series: Earth Environ. Sci. 44 (2) (2016).
L. De Rose, J. Morris, The influence of mix design on the properties of micro-cellular concrete. Specialist Techniques and Materials for Construction, Thomas Telford, London, UK, 1999, pp. 185–197.
Y. M. Amran, N. Farzadnia, A. A. Ali, Properties and applications of foamed concrete; a review, Constr. Build. Mater. 101 (2015) 990–1005.
B. Tiwari, B. Ajmera, R. Maw, R. Cole, D. Villegas, P. Palmerson, Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Cellular Concrete for Geotechnical Applications, J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 29 (7) (2017).
M. Y. Lee, R. D. Hardy, D. R. Bronowski, Laboratory Constitutive Characterization of Cellular Concrete, Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN, USA, 2004.
T. G. Richard, J. A. Dobogai, T. D. Gerhardt, W. C. Young, Cellular concrete — a potential load-bearing insulation for cryogenic applications, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, 11(2) (1975) 500–503 https://doi.org/10.1109/TMAG.1975.1058746.
E. P. Kearsley, P. J. Booyens, Reinforced foamed concrete, can it be durable, Concrete/Beton 91 (1998) 5–9.
E. P. Kearsley, P. J. Wainwright, Porosity and permeability of foamed concrete, Cem. Concr. Res. 31(5) (2001) 805–812.
P. J. Tikalsky, J. Pospisil, W. MacDonald, A method for assessment of the freeze-thaw resistance of preformed foam cellular concrete, Cement and concrete research. 34(5) (2004) 889–893.
K. A. M. Sari, A. R. M. Sani, Applications of Foamed Lightweight Concrete, MATEC Web of Conferences 97(01097) (2017) 1–5 https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/20179701097
S. Mindess, Developments in the Formulation and Reinforcement of Concrete, Woodhead Publishing, Vancouver, Canada, 2019 https://doi.org/10.1016/C2017-0-03347-5.
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures. 1993(Vol. 1). AASHTO, Washington DC, USA, 1993.
American Society for Testing and Materials, Standard Test Method for Deflections with a Falling-Weight-Type Impulse Load Device. ASTM D4694. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2015.
F. Griffiths, M. Popik, Pavement Evaluation — CEMATRIX Site Dixie Road, Caledon, Ontario, Thurber Engineering Ltd. 2010 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, Canada, 2013.
F. M. W. Ni, A. G. Oyeyi, S. Averyanov, S. Tighe, B. Dolton, J. Li, Properties of ultra-low density lightweight cellular concrete containing slag, Presented at the 98th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. Washington DC, USA, 2019.
ARA, Inc., ERES Consultants Division, Guide for Mechanistic-Empirical Design of New and Rehabilitated Pavement Structures. NCHRP 1-37A Final Report. Transportation research Board, National Research Council, Washington DC, USA, 2004.
American Society for Testing and Materials, Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Lightweight Insulating Concrete. ASTM C495/C495M. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2012.
American Society for Testing and Materials, Standard Specification for Foaming Agents Used in Making Preformed Foam for Cellular Concrete. ASTM C869/869M. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2016.
University of Waterloo, Indirect Tensile Strength and Resilient Modulus Testing of CEMATRIX Cellular Concrete, Unpublished test report, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2011.
B. Dolton, S. McIntosh, Reconstruction of a high-volume bus lane using cellular concrete. Paper presented at the GEOEdmonton 2018, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2018.
S. Averyanov, F. M. W. Ni, E. Melese, S. Tighe, Construction Experience Analysis of using CEMATRIX Lightweight Cellular Concrete as a Subbase material, CSCE 2018 Fredericton Annual Conference. Fredericton, NB, Canada, 2018.
M. Drusa, M. Decky, Designing and Quality Control of Earth Structures on Transport Constructions, Edis Uniza (2013) 522.
Ministry of Transportation Ontari, Pavement Design and Rehabilitation Manual, Ministry of Ontario Materials Engineering, and Research Office (MERO), Ontario, Canada, 2013.
R.W. Perera, A. Al-Rawashdeh, Investigation of Increase in Roughness Due to Environmental Factors in Flexible Pavements Using Profile Data from Long-Term Pavement Performance Studies 1 Experiment, FHWA-HRT-17-049. FHWA, Department of Transportation, Washington DC, USA, 2017.
S. M. Stoffels, S.W. Lee, A. Bae, Observed Effects of Subgrade Moisture on Longitudinal Profile, 85th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, USA, 2006.
M. R. Taha, S. Hardwiyono, N. I. M. Yusoff, M. R. Halnin, J. Wu, K. A. M. Nayan, Study of the effect of temperature changes on Elastic modulus of flexible pavement layers, Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Eng. Technol. 5(5) (2013) 1661–1667.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Peer review under responsibility of Chinese Society of Pavement Engineering.
Rights and permissions
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Atribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwisein a credit line to the material. If the material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to optain permission directly from the copyright holder.
To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
About this article
Cite this article
Ni, F.MW., Oyeyi, A.G. & Tighe, S. The potential use of lightweight cellular concrete in pavement application: a review. Int. J. Pavement Res. Technol. 13, 686–696 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42947-020-6003-8
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42947-020-6003-8