Feasibility of Using Lightweight Artificial Course Aggregates in the Manufacture of R. C. Elements
Mohamed R. Afify1, Noha M. Soliman2
1Mohamed R. Afify, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Menoufia University, Egypt.
2Noha M. Soliman, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Menoufia University, Egypt.
Manuscript received on November 27, 2013. | Revised Manuscript received on December 13, 2013. | Manuscript published on December 30, 2013. | PP: 290-306 | Volume-3, Issue-2, December 2013. | Retrieval Number: B2442123213/2013©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: In recent years lightweight concrete is considered as one of the most important materials in the special concrete groups. It has extensive applications in the architect and insolation work. Lightweight aggregates and chemical admixtures play an important role in the production of lightweight concrete. New artificial course aggregate has been recently developed and has the attention of the researches to be used in the manufacture of lightweight concrete. This research was conducted to determine the feasibility of lightweight aggregate type commercially available in the Egyptian market in the concrete industry. Plan concrete specimens as well as reinforced concrete beams and slabs cast with concrete containing such lightweight aggregate were cast and tested in the research. The main variable taken into consideration were the aggregate type, cement and water content as well as the chemical and mineralogical admixtures content. The percentage of reinforcement of the beams and slabs tested were also taken in to consideration. The mechanical properties of fifteen concrete mixes were determined. The structure behavior of the tested beams and slabs were investigation with special attention to their deflections, longitudinal strain and cracking under different stages of loading as well as the ultimate loads and modes of failure.
Keywords: Lightweight concrete, lightweight aggregate, foam, new artificial course aggregate, compressive strength, R. C. Beams and R. C. Slabs.